01-06-2025
Vietnam stay calm amid Harimau's war dance
KUALA LUMPUR: As Malaysia procure more and more naturalised players, their rivals, Vietnam are just their natural selves — staying cool.
Harimau Malaya's neighbours calmly go about their training, which began at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Centre on Saturday.
Malaysia's latest announcement is that Colombian-born striker Rodrigo Holgado has joined their team for the Asian Cup qualifier against Vietnam at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil on June 10.
Vietnam Football Federation vice president Tran Anh Tu and general-secretary Nguyen Van Phu had met with head coach Kim Sang Sik — who guided Asean All Stars to a 1-0 win over Manchester United at Bukit Jalil on Wednesday — and their players, and talked about the importance of tactical discipline.
The Vietnam team appear confident, and the country's veteran football commentator Quang Huy said that Sang Sik has a core of experienced players well-versed in their national team's playing style and tactical requirements.
"I believe Vietnam can secure at least one point in this away match, then aim for victory at home in the return leg," Quang Huy reportedly said.
Vietnam have brought in newly naturalised French-Vietnamese defender Cao Quang Vinh Pendant who used to play in France's Ligue 2 and former national striker Nguyen Cong Phuong after a two-year absence.
Cong Phuong told the Vietnamese media: "I can feel the strong spirit and desire to contribute from everyone in the team."
Vietnamese football pundits believe the limited time that Malaysia's naturalised players have spent together could affect the team's chemistry.
