Pre-match information
The Vietnamese futsal team had a favorable start in the Asian Championship with a 5-4 victory over Kuwait. Although the performance was not really convincing, the most important thing was 3 full points.
This result helps coach Diego Giustozzi's team temporarily gain the upper hand in the competition for a ticket to the quarter-finals in Group B. If they continue to defeat Lebanon in the 2nd round, and Thailand also overcomes Kuwait, the group situation will almost be decided soon, when Vietnam and Thailand are likely to advance together before 1 round.
In the opposite direction, the Lebanese futsal team is in a difficult situation. The 0-2 defeat to Thailand on the opening day forces them to have at least 1 point against Vietnam if they want to hold on to hope for the next round. In case they continue to be empty-handed, the West Asian representative almost has to say goodbye to the tournament.
Looking back at the past, in the qualifying round of 2025, the Vietnamese futsal team once won a resounding 4-0 victory over Lebanon, with goals from Da Hai, Manh Dung, Ngoc Anh and Minh Quang. However, Lebanon is no longer the old team as they have replaced the head coach.
Mr. Ricardo Iñiguez Calabuig - the Spanish strategist was appointed with the ambition to go far in the 2026 Asian Futsal Championship and further in the 2028 Futsal World Cup.
However, the mark of this coach is not really clear, shown through a crowded defensive style and leaning towards clearing the ball when facing strong opponents like Thailand.
