Vietnam team suddenly changes training ground, keeps tactics secret before match against Malaysia

The Vietnamese team will begin their second training session in Malaysia at the UM Arena – a stadium belonging to the University of Malaya, near the center of Kuala Lumpur, with a capacity of about 1,000 seats. Unlike the first training session held at the SIME Darby FC stadium, this training session will be held at a more closed location, with better stands and security conditions.

The change of training location shows that the coaching staff is entering the stage of perfecting tactics and testing the team's ability to operate in conditions close to real competition. At the same time, the UM Arena with its system of stands and limited space helps the team ensure confidentiality, avoiding the disclosure of tactical exercises before the important match against Malaysia.

UM Arena was one of the venues for the 29th SEA Games and is often used for student tournaments in Malaysia. Coach Kim Sang-sik is also familiar with this field, having trained here with the Southeast Asian All-Star team before the friendly match against Manchester United.

Regarding the team's strength, there are no injuries reported. The players are all in stable condition and in high spirits. Coach Kim Sang-sik expressed satisfaction with his players' performance in this final preparation phase.

Ahead of the important match against Malaysia in the second qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup, coach Kim Sang-sik affirmed that the Vietnamese team is very determined, despite difficulties in personnel and pressure when playing away. He emphasized: "The joy will be doubled when we overcome difficulties and win."

Evaluating Malaysia, an opponent that has failed many times against Vietnam in the past, coach Kim Sang-sik said that we need to forget history to focus on the present: “The unbeaten streak for more than a decade is the result of serious preparation and the players' courage. However, each match is a new challenge and we need maximum concentration.”

In fact, Malaysia is no longer an easy opponent to predict. The home team has added nearly 10 new naturalized players, making their tactical approach more unpredictable. Coach Kim Sang-sik admitted: “This makes it more difficult to analyze the opponent’s tactics. But we will continue to study to come up with the optimal solution.”

The Vietnamese team has 3 days of training before the official match with the host team Malaysia, taking place at 8:00 p.m. (Vietnam time) on June 10 at Bukit Jalil Stadium. With careful preparation, a full squad and high determination, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team aim to achieve favorable results to continue to nurture hope at the 2027 Asian Cup./.