Coach Kim Sang Sik said that the head-to-head record gives the Vietnamese team confidence, but that doesn't mean the whole team should be complacent against a Singaporean team that is making a lot of progress.
He said: “Vietnam’s record against Singapore has been victories. That’s positive. However, Singapore is now much stronger than it was two years ago, with many players in top form like Song Ui Jong, Nakamura, and Bin Anuar. We will play with a positive spirit, prepare our tactics to the best of our ability, and do our best to extend our unbeaten streak.”
The South Korean coach emphasized that the match at My Dinh Stadium is very important for the Vietnamese national team's journey in the ASEAN Championship 2026. "We need a win to continue our journey. In the past few days, the whole team has recovered well and prepared thoroughly. I hope the fans will come to the stadium to cheer us on and give us more motivation to achieve a good result."
According to coach Kim Sang Sik, the Vietnamese national team is focusing all its attention on the match against Singapore, rather than thinking about the next game against Indonesia . "After this match, the coaching staff will assess the players' recovery status and develop a plan for the match against Indonesia."
Regarding the technical aspects, coach Kim Sang Sik revealed that the coaching staff has prepared many tactical options to counter the opponent, and will also make personnel adjustments to suit the players' physical condition. He also stated that he will give opportunities to young players when the time is right.
“We entered the tournament with the mission of defending our title. I don't see that as pressure, but rather as motivation for the whole team to perform better. Every match is a final, especially the home games. We will go into the match with the highest determination,” emphasized coach Kim Sang Sik.
Also attending the press conference, striker Nguyen Dinh Bac affirmed that the strength of the Vietnamese national team comes from its collective spirit: "Football is a team sport . The Vietnamese national team does not depend on any individual. The important thing is that all the players cooperate and play synchronously to create a common strength."
Striker Dinh Bac said he is ready for the match against Singapore. “Fans always have high expectations for the national team. For me, the team's performance is the most important thing. I will give my all for the national flag. Whether I score or not, I will still be happy if the team wins.”
Sharing about the team's preparation process, Dinh Bac said that after the victory against Timor Leste in the first match, the whole team had a week of serious training in preparation for the match against Singapore. "We worked hard from technical meetings to training sessions on the field. The whole team aimed to win against Singapore to build momentum for the away match against Indonesia."