According to the match schedule, the Vietnam team will face the Laos team in the first match of the 3rd qualifying round of the 2025 Asian Cup. The match will take place at 7:30 p.m. on March 25 at Binh Duong Stadium.
On the afternoon of April 23, representatives of the coaching staff and players of the two teams Vietnam and Laos attended a press conference before the match.
16:36: Coach Kim Sang-sik and striker Nguyen Tien Linh arrive at the press conference room.
Reporter: Can coach Kim Sang-sik evaluate the opponent in tomorrow's match as well as the goal of the whole team?
Coach Kim Sang-sik: Tomorrow's match is the first match in the Asian Cup qualifiers. We played at home. The players and I have prepared well. We hope to score many goals and contribute to the match well tomorrow.
Striker Nguyen Tien Linh: Tomorrow is the team's first match in the Asian qualifiers. The whole team is in good spirits and in good physical condition to enter the first match. The first match was not easy. The Vietnamese team is preparing the best to have a smooth start.
The team will have a victory to send to the Fans. Fans are eagerly waiting for the Vietnam team at Binh Duong Stadium. The whole team will complete the goal and have a resounding victory to send to the fans.
Reporter: What is Tien Linh's pressure, aspiration and health status?
Striker Nguyen Tien Linh: My health condition is good and I am also 100% fit and mentally fit for tomorrow's match. The goal is to win at home. The recent victory of the ASEAN Cup over the Vietnamese team is a motivation for the entire team to play better in tomorrow's match.
The whole team has the best spirit and preparation for the journey. Before that, the Vietnam team had a test match to prepare physically with Cambodia, the match was good.
The whole team is in a spirit of desire, dedication as well as showing themselves to have gifts to send to fans. For me, being a player who has played for a long time at Binh Duong Stadium is also a part of the motivation to play better and bring victory.
Reporter: Why was the team practicing closedly yesterday? How many points do you give the players for tactics on a 10-point scale?
Coach Kim Sang-sik: Reporters' work is based on regulations and calculations, following the regulations of the organizing committee to ensure professional factors. Regarding scoring, the players are following good tactics in both strategy and training.
If I score, I think I will score 90/100. This is an official qualifying match, we need to overcome physical and mental strength to continue. If there is progress in both aspects, it will demonstrate its ability and performance well.
Reporter: The Vietnam team met Laos in the opening match of the 2024 ASEAN Cup. How do you evaluate the current opponents compared to when the two teams met before?
Coach Kim Sang-sik: Based on the analysis of the Laos and Sri Lanka matches, they have 3 more naturalized players, number 3, 10, 8. I shared with the players to prepare. Laos has become stronger with naturalized players. We are not subjective and have to focus and prepare for tomorrow's match.
Reporter: Tien Linh's parents were afraid to go out to watch because they were emotional. Now that I have returned to Binh Duong, to play for the national team, with the support of my parents and family, how do I feel motivated?
Striker Nguyen Tien Linh: Linh's family cannot watch me play at home for various reasons. But tomorrow's match will be one of the first times my family will see me play directly for the national team. This is the motivation and responsibility to compete well. Hopefully I will do well and the team will complete the goal.
Reporter: It is natural that we will qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup finals in the round, but what is the strategy when we can calculate the secondary index? Does the team plan to aim for a big win?
Coach Kim Sang-sik: The important thing is to get through the group stage. The first match is always important. The next match against Malaysia was the same, scoring many goals helped the team easily move on, but the most important thing was still the victory. Hopefully tomorrow the player will score many goals right from the first half.
Reporter: How difficult is finding a replacement for Xuan Son?
Coach Kim Sang-sik: Xuan Son is recovering well. The coaching staff and fans always hope he will return. Tomorrow Linh will replace Xuan Son. I trust him very much.
