The Vietnamese team won the top spot in Group A with 10 points after 4 matches, thereby advancing to the semi-finals of ASEAN Cup 2026 with a record of 3 wins, 1 draw. This result creates a favorable foundation for coach Kim Sang-sik's team before the away match against Malaysia.
The difference in force is one of the notable points before the confrontation. The Vietnamese team has the strongest squad, while Malaysia faces many limitations because clubs do not release players, some players have physical problems.
Coach Tan Cheng Hoe once admitted that Malaysia's preparation process was not favorable. However, this coach believes that spirit and cohesion helped the team overcome obstacles to win a ticket to the semi-finals.
From the beginning, our preparation process was not smooth and our journey was not smooth either. However, thanks to the desire of the players, the trust in each other and the continuous guidance from the coaching staff, we won the right to enter the semi-finals," said Mr. Tan Cheng Hoe.
Previously, coach Tan Cheng Hoe also assessed that Vietnam possesses the strongest force in the tournament. This assessment shows that the personnel gap between the two teams is leaning towards the defending champion.
However, the defending champions must not be subjective. The two draws against Singapore and Cambodia partly revealed the limitations of the team when they had to control the game and constantly find ways to penetrate the opponent's defense.
The match between Malaysia and Vietnam takes place at 8:00 p.m. today (August 16), live on VTV6.
Live stream link:
//vtvgo. vn/channel/vtv6-1,13. html
