Coach Mai Duc Chung: "Vietnam team is ready for the challenge from Australia"

“The Vietnamese women's team is excited to prepare for the match. Both teams are evenly matched. U23 Australia is very young and has prepared thoroughly for this tournament. We hope to play well in the upcoming match. We hope that fans will come to the stadium to support the Vietnamese women's team,” coach Mai Duc Chung said at a press conference before the semi-final match of the 2025 Southeast Asian Championship against U23 Australia.

In the semi-finals, the Vietnamese women's team not only had the advantage of playing at home but also had one more day off than their opponents. Coach Mai Duc Chung expressed his opinion: "It's true that we have the advantage of one more day off, while U23 Australia has to travel from Phu Tho to here, but that's only an advantage in theory.

U23 Australia is young, healthy and adapts quickly. It was unfortunate that they lost to Myanmar, but they played well in the next match. We faced a difficult opponent, but the whole team was well prepared. The Vietnamese women's team strives for each match, determined no matter who the opponent is. The team plays with all their might, but I cannot predict other issues."

At the press conference, striker Huynh Nhu shared: "This is not the first time the Vietnamese women's team has played at home. We played at Thong Nhat in 2014 or the SEA Games in Quang Ninh .

That is the motivation for the Vietnamese women's team to strive, and hopefully in the upcoming match, the audience will come in larger numbers, bringing a more wonderful atmosphere. Many fans from other provinces will come here to support. That gives us confidence.

It’s the semi-finals so I feel very relaxed and confident, with familiar fans in the stands, that’s a big motivation. As for whether I score or not, I’ll try my best to bring the best results for the Vietnamese women’s team.”

On the other side of the front line, Australia U23 coach Joseph Palatsides said: “We prepared for this match almost like any other. The players are very excited, but also know that we will have to face one of the strongest teams in the tournament, led by a good coach.

It will be a very difficult match, but we are excited about the opportunity for the players and the team. After the first match of the tournament, the tactical information we gave the players was well received and implemented. More important than the tactics is their will and desire to win. After the match against the Philippines, the team is more confident and has improved with each match.”

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/hlv-mai-duc-chung-tuyen-viet-nam-san-sang-truoc-thach-thuc-tu-australia-20250815130602719.htm