Hero Tran Gia Bao: 'The Vietnamese team will fight with all their might'

On the afternoon of April 8, local time, the Vietnam U17 team returned to the training ground to prepare for the final match of the group stage against the United Arab Emirates U17 team (UAE). This is a match that will decide the ticket to the next round for coach Cristiano Roland and his team.

In this training session, the coaching staff focused on physical recovery, mental stability and confidence building – key factors before the crucial moment.

Earlier in the morning, the team continued to maintain a scientific training regimen to ensure the best physical condition for the entire team. The group of players who officially played in the match against U17 Japan were allowed to relax and recover in the swimming pool area to reduce pressure on their muscles.

Meanwhile, the group of players who have played little or not played yet perform specialized physical training exercises at the gym, maintaining stable performance and high readiness.

During a media interview, striker Tran Gia Bao – who scored the decisive goal in extra time to help the U17 Vietnam team draw with U17 Japan – shared the moment he stepped up to the penalty spot. Gia Bao said: “I always believed I could do it and tried my best to execute the shot. When I saw the ball go into the net, the first thing I thought of was running out to celebrate with the whole team and the teachers.”

Gia Bao said that goal was a huge motivation for him to continue to strive to improve himself and look for more opportunities to make his mark in the future.

Although he only came on as a substitute in the first two matches, Tran Gia Bao always showed determination and a serious competitive spirit. He was evaluated by head coach Cristiano Roland as a “special weapon” that could create a breakthrough. The young player currently playing for Hoang Anh Gia Lai Club expressed:
“Each coach has his own tactics and chooses his personnel to suit each match. Personally, whether I play from the beginning or just the last few minutes, I always try my best to execute the strategy set out by the coach.”

When asked about the upcoming opponent - the UAE U17 team, Tran Gia Bao frankly shared: "All three teams in the same group with the Vietnam U17 team are very strong opponents. However, in the final match, when there is nothing left to lose, the whole team will fight with everything they have to win."

After the first two matches at Okaz Stadium, coach Cristiano Roland and his team will move to King Fahd Sports City Stadium for the final match of the group stage. In order for the players to get a feel for the ball and adapt well to the field conditions, the team will have a field visit on April 9 before officially starting the practice session to get acquainted with the field./.