Iraqi coach: Young players will be the future of Vietnamese football
(Baonghean.vn) - The Iraqi coach praised the young players of the Vietnamese team after the match in the 2nd qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, and said that this is the future of Vietnamese football.
Iraq defeated Vietnam 1-0 in the final seconds of the match, thereby getting 3 points leaving My Dinh Stadium.
Evaluating the match, coach Jesus Casas said: “This was a difficult match. Iraq had a few chances and scored a goal. I am very happy that both teams played with dedication. Mohanad Ali's goal was very special as he has been injured for the past 2 years. Both teams played well. Vietnam has a clear style of play, keeping the ball, controlling the ball and running on the wing. The 2026 World Cup qualifiers have just begun, and it is a difficult journey for the teams."
The Iraqi team captain praised the young players of the Vietnamese team: “This is a good sign because young players who play well will be the future of Vietnamese football. I cannot compare young players with experienced players, but they played well in this match.”
The player who scored the only goal of the match, Mohanad Ali, shared his feelings: “Three points are very important. Scoring makes me happy. This is the first goal for the national team since I returned after 2 years of injury.”
On the same day, the Indonesian team still could not get the first 3 points in the second match against the Philippines team at Rizal Memorial Stadium with a 1-1 draw.