Putting aside the surrounding pressure, the Vietnamese team wants to find joy in their match against Iraq.

No road to glory is easy.

As part of their preparation for the final group stage match against Iraq, the Vietnamese national team held a fitness training session on the morning of January 21st in the hotel gym.

The entire team is striving to regain positive energy and is determined to achieve the best possible result against Iraq, thereby creating a beautiful finale before concluding their journey at the 2023 Asian Cup.

Van Toan was a substitute in the match against Indonesia.

Hung Dung did not play in the match against Indonesia.

After two matches, Iraq has secured first place in the group, having won their direct confrontations with Indonesia and Japan. Meanwhile, due to losses to Japan and Indonesia, the Vietnamese team no longer has a chance to compete for a place in the next round, regardless of the score against Iraq. Therefore, the final group stage match between Vietnam and Iraq is merely a formality.

But with an unyielding spirit and a commitment to giving their all for their country's colors, coach Philippe Troussier and his team are still preparing for the match with seriousness and high determination. They understand that if they cannot overcome difficult times, bravely face the surrounding pressure, and persevere with their choices, it will be difficult to expect better results in the future.

In his message to his players, Coach Philippe Troussier said that even at the age of 70, having almost achieved everything he could, he still maintains his motivation to continue working and giving his all every day to contribute to Vietnamese football. Therefore, he hopes that the players, who are in the prime of their lives, will continue to strive in all circumstances, firstly to develop themselves, and secondly to turn their aspirations and ambitions into reality. There is no easy path to glory.

Tuan Hai and Van Tung have not yet recovered from their injuries.

The match against Iraq will take place on January 24th. Therefore, coach Philippe Troussier and his team will have two more days to prepare. In terms of personnel, the team has the return of young striker Dinh Bac.

However, the two players injured in the match against Indonesia, Tuan Hai and Van Tung, are still undergoing rehabilitation with the support of doctors and physiotherapists. The team's goal is to achieve the best possible result against Iraq, thereby not only demonstrating a never-give-up spirit but also creating momentum for the road ahead, when we meet Indonesia and Iraq again in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, in March and June respectively.

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