Coach Philippe Troussier: Vietnam team determined to surprise Iraq

Speaking at the press conference before the match between Vietnam and Iraq in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in Asia, coach Philippe Troussier said: ''Depending on the opponent, depending on the playing style, each match of the Vietnam team will be different. My task is to try to adjust the corresponding tactics to cause maximum difficulty for the opponent. We are ready. Hopefully the Vietnam team will receive strong support from the home audience," said coach Philippe Troussier.

"I have faced Iraq many times when I was in charge of Qatar. In the Doha Cup friendly tournament, I also met U23 Iraq, so I know Iraq's position in Asia. In theory, Iraq is much stronger than Vietnam, has many players with international experience, many of whom play in Europe. They have also won the Asian Cup. However, I told my students to make it as difficult as possible for Iraq. Being underestimated helps the Vietnamese team not to be under much pressure," the French strategist emphasized.

Not only is it a battle on the field, it is also a battle of wits between coach Philippe Troussier andCoach Jesus Casasalso promises to be very interesting. While Mr. Troussier has led many national teams around the world, coach Jesus Casas is equally famous. The 50-year-old military leader receives a salary of 1 million euros/year, a contract until the end of 2026 with the goal of bringing the Iraqi team to the World Cup.

"Both the Iraqi coach and I come from Europe, but I am different in that I have coached teams in many different continents and tournaments. Thanks to that, I have the flexibility to adjust to each environment and situation. My philosophy is similar to the Iraqi coach's in that we both want to control the ball. To do that, our defense must be disciplined and solid enough to keep the ball. I appreciate the players.Vietnam team, they have a good foundation to implement this philosophy. However, the Vietnamese players need to be more confident to implement what the coach requires, from there we will have more spirit and momentum to confront the top teams in the continent," said coach Philippe Troussier.

Regarding the personnel issue in the match against Iraq, the French coach affirmed that he chose players not based on past reputation but on performance and suitability. Therefore, it is normal that no one is registered to play in the next match.

"The past and the present are two different concepts. I don't want to compare the results of Vietnam and Iraq in the past to the present. Some Vietnamese players have also met Iraq, they are very determined, more than 100%. They are confident enough to create a surprise. We have the advantage over Iraq in playing at home. If we take advantage of the opportunity, I believe the Vietnamese team will achieve good results," coach Philippe Troussier concluded.

The match between Vietnam and Iraq will take place at 7:00 p.m. on November 21 at My Dinh Stadium.