The coaching staff spent most of the training session to improve the playing style, train attack deployment plans and organize defense, thereby improving the cohesion between the lines before entering the tournament.
Two players who did not train with the whole team are goalkeeper Dang Van Lam due to mild pain and striker Nguyen Tai Loc due to calf muscle strain. According to the medical department, both only encountered minor problems and are expected to return to normal training in the training session on July 23.
Before the training session, defender Pham Xuan Manh said that the team had prepared carefully after more than three weeks of gathering, including the domestic training phase, a training trip in Korea, and friendly matches and a friendly match with Myanmar.
The whole team has had a very good preparation process. We have two weeks of training in Korea, playing practice matches and a friendly match with Myanmar. That is an important warm-up step towards the ASEAN Cup 2026," Xuan Manh shared.
According to the defender born in 1996, after the friendly match with Myanmar, the coaching staff held a professional meeting to assess the positive points as well as the limitations that need to be overcome before entering the tournament.
Xuan Manh said that the team is focusing on perfecting the ability to organize defense, especially the coordination and cover between positions, and at the same time continue to train attacking plans.
The coach is focusing a lot on defense, especially the ability to coordinate, support and cover the players. In parallel with that, the whole team is also continuing to train attacking plans to have the best preparation," he said.
Before the absence of captain Do Duy Manh, Xuan Manh affirmed that defensive players always maintain exchanges on the field to increase coordination, while the coaching staff also prepared many plans to ensure the certainty of the defensive system.
Assessing the opponent Timor-Leste, the defender of the Vietnamese team said that the whole team is prioritizing perfecting their playing style before going deep into analyzing the opponent.
Currently, the whole team is focusing on perfecting their playing style and tactical plans. The coaching staff will have specific analysis of Timor-Leste at the appropriate time," Xuan Manh said.
As a member of the Vietnamese national team that won the ASEAN Cup 2024, Xuan Manh expressed his determination to protect the throne with his teammates.
Being able to participate in the tournament with the national team and defend the championship is a source of pride for me. The whole team will try their best, unite and be determined to overcome all difficulties to protect the achievements we have won," he shared.
According to the plan, in the afternoon of July 23, the Vietnamese national team will have an official training session at Chonburi Stadium to complete the final preparations before the opening match against Timor-Leste at ASEAN Cup 2026.
