This is the first World Cup season that Cong Vinh is no longer a player, so the former DTQG striker shared that he has a lot of time to enjoy the biggest football festival on the planet.
Le Cong Vinh had a conversation with Lao Dong Newspaper about his first World Cup after retiring from his football career.
This is the first World Cup season that Cong Vinh is no longer a player, so how Vinh enjoys the World Cup differently in the past and now?
- Of course, there are many differences. I get to watch more, I get more free time, I watch whatever match I like. Before, I almost couldn't watch, I had to control my time to ensure I could practice and compete well. Now Vinh is very comfortable watching the World Cup with his family without any problems.
From your perspective, how is the atmosphere of this year's World Cup compared to previous years?
- I think that as the biggest football festival on the planet, it must be a festival. I find all the tournaments in Russia very attractive to the audience, like the match between Iran and macro with over 60,000 people coming to the stadium, I understand the appeal of this tournament, not to mention billions of people watching it on television. Then the media, the press, always mentioned the World Cup, always everywhere. 4 years, we have only had a tournament, gathering the strongest teams in the world, there is no reason why the atmosphere is not enthusiastic.
Which World Cup season do you remember most in your life?
- For me, France 1998 was the World Cup that I missed the most in my life. I still remember that year Zidane scored 2 goals and France won the final against Brazil. That year, my idol was the "bhai" Ronaldo of Brazil, and I think at that time, many Vietnamese fans also loved Brazil or the "bhai" Ronaldo. But they lost in the final, making Vinh very sad.
Which team do you highly appreciate in this year's World Cup and predict the name will be crowned champion?
- Maybe we all recognize candidates. They will be Brazil, Germany, Argentina, France, Portugal, Spain, they are all strong teams in the world. As for the "dark horse", Vinh hopes that the two Asian representatives, Japan and Korea, will surprise at this year's World Cup. I hope Brazil and Argentina will be the two names to play in the final, and Brazil will be crowned champion.
Which Vinh player is the most impressive at this World Cup?
- Of course, there are 3 players that the whole world always pays attention to: Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar. Ronaldo shined with a hat-trick in the opening match. Now we just have to wait for Messi and Neymar. I highly appreciate Brazil's squad as a team of equal and quality, so Neymar will be the name with the most opportunities to shine at this World Cup.
Is there a difference between Vinh enjoying the World Cup with his teammates and family?
- They say they watch the World Cup with their families, but in fact Vinh only watched it alone. Due to the nature of my job, my wife doesn't have much time, and my daughter only likes to watch cartoons (laughs). Although the family has 2 TVs, sometimes the father and son still compete to watch the same TV in the living room, at that time I have to "exchange" my daughter to go to the camera, while I watch the World Cup alone.
Thank you!
