Kim Sang-sik, head coach of the Vietnam national football team, acknowledged his responsibility for the team's disappointing performance in the 2026 FIFA ASEAN Cup. The defending champions finished the tournament after losing to Malaysia in the third-place match, leading to criticism from local fans regarding the team's performance and player management.
On October 5, Vietnam lost 0-1 to Malaysia in the third-place match held at the Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia. Vietnam also suffered a 0-2 defeat to Thailand in the group stage, finishing second in Group B and ending their tournament run with another loss.
In a post-match press conference, Coach Kim stated that while the players gave their best effort, they faced challenges with preparation and fitness. He said, "The players did their best, but we had very little preparation time, and many players were not at 100% fitness. Nevertheless, the team's performance was disappointing, and I take full responsibility as the coach."
Vietnam struggled with proper preparation leading up to the tournament. The team had only one day of training before departing for Indonesia and played their first match just three days after arriving. Key players, including Tan Chung, Quang Hai, and Van Hau, were sidelined due to injuries, and other essential players could not regain full fitness due to a congested schedule. Star striker Nguyen Tuan Anh returned home for treatment after playing just one match.
The match against Malaysia was decided by a difference in finishing. Vietnam recorded 14 shots, double the 7 attempts by Malaysia, but only managed 4 on target. In contrast, Malaysia converted one of their 3 shots on target into a goal. The decisive goal came from substitute Fergus Tierney, who entered the match in the 60th minute and scored just over a minute later with a shot that slipped through the legs of goalkeeper Bui Hoang Viet.
Vietnam appeared to have a penalty opportunity in the 73rd minute, but the decision was overturned. After Le Van Do fell in the penalty area due to a tackle from Haikal, the referee initially awarded a penalty. However, after video review, it was determined that the Malaysian defender touched the ball first, leading to a reversal of the call. Coach Kim commented, "I think it was a disappointing decision, but this is football, and we have to accept it."
However, local fans reacted coldly to the tournament results. One fan criticized, "This result does not accurately reflect the true strength of the Vietnam national team. If we had lost to the Philippines, we should not have advanced past the group stage." Another pointed out the gap between regional tournament success and continental competitiveness, stating, "In SEA Games or AFF Cup, we gather our best players to win medals, but our performance drops significantly in continental tournaments or World Cup qualifiers," citing recurring issues with injuries, fitness, and scheduling.
Calls for accountability from the coach also emerged. One fan wrote, "If there are no measures to address the losses, the coach must take responsibility." Another mentioned the substitutions of Ngoc Bao and Van Do, criticizing the players' lack of long-range shooting ability. Some responses included harsh critiques of Coach Kim's player management and leadership.
In response, Coach Kim expressed his commitment to preparing for the 2027 Asian Cup. Vietnam plans to reconvene the national team on FIFA Day in November for two friendly matches before heading to overseas training in December. They will compete in the Asian Cup, scheduled from January 7 to February 5, 2027, in Saudi Arabia.
Coach Kim stated, "Now is the time to look toward 2027. We need to prepare better and show improved performance in the Asian Cup." He added, "We must learn from this year's experiences, and I will continue to observe and select good players. We also need to identify and nurture young talents to create a harmonious team across generations."
Meanwhile, after maintaining their position as Southeast Asian champions, Vietnam failed to achieve the expected results in this tournament. With Coach Kim highlighting preparation time, injuries, and fitness issues, the challenge remains to stabilize the team's player composition and performance ahead of the Asian Cup.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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