Pre-match information
After drawing with the Russian futsal team 2-2 in the opening match, the Vietnamese futsal team entered the confrontation with New Zealand with the goal of winning their first victory at the 2026 Thailand Championship.
Against an opponent considered to be slightly superior in class, coach Diego Raul Giustozzi's team played confidently. Nguyen Thinh Phat and Tran Thai Huy respectively scored to help the Vietnam futsal team take the lead twice, before accepting a draw overall.
The performance against Russia brought many positive signals when the players maintained cohesion in their playing style, defensive organization and created many opportunities against a strong opponent.
Assessing the goals at the tournament, coach Diego Raul Giustozzi affirmed that the team always aims for victory, but the biggest priority is still to test the force and improve the playing style.
The Argentine strategist said that he wants experienced players to promote their leadership role, and at the same time create conditions for young faces to express themselves and accumulate international competition experience.
The 2026 Thailand Continental Championship friendly tournament gathers 5 teams including host Thailand, Russia, Afghanistan, New Zealand and Vietnam. The teams compete in a single round-robin format to determine the overall ranking.
This is an important tournament for the Vietnamese futsal team to rub against opponents with high professional quality, thereby helping the coaching staff assess the force, improve tactics and prepare for major goals in the coming time.
Against New Zealand, the Vietnamese futsal team is expected to continue to maintain a positive performance like in the match against Russia, and at the same time aim for their first victory at the tournament.
