Ha NoiAt 11 a.m. today, Indonesia coach Shin Tae-yong answered the media about preparations for the return match with Vietnam in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
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“Tomorrow's match will be difficult, because we have to play away. But Indonesia is preparing to have a match and try to win on Vietnam's field," the Korean military leader said at a press conference at the headquarters of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), My Dinh.
Coach Shin Tae-yong said his goal is to defeat Vietnam right at My Dinh. Image: Lam Thou
Coach Shin used to suffer a lot of bitterness from Vietnamese football when he continuously lost to teams led by coach Park Hang-seo. But after his fellow countryman retired, his career seemed to take a different, brighter direction. Coach Shin is now the hero of Indonesian football when he helped them win two consecutive victories against Vietnam, with a score of 1-0, in the Asian Cup group stage in January 1 and the first round of the second qualifying round of the World Cup. 2024 last week.
The two people who contributed to bringing the goal to Indonesia in the match at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on March 21 are both "domestic". Pratama Arhan's strong throw-in caused the Vietnamese defense to make a mistake and Egy Maulana scored a goal from close range. But the good performance of the island team bears the strong impression of the naturalized players. They played calmly and firmly, helping Indonesia play firmly against Vietnam, no longer getting caught up in the opponent's playing style, leading to making mistakes and being punished like before.
Rematching at My Dinh tomorrow, March 26, Indonesia lost defender Sandy Walsh to a penalty card. But they have two new naturalized players, Thom Haye and Ragnar Oratmagoen.
The 1-0 victory at Bung Karno helped Indonesia surpass Vietnam in the race to win tickets to the third qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup. They ranked second in Group F with 4 points, 1 point ahead of Vietnam and 6 points behind Iraq. . If they do not lose to Vietnam in the match at My Dinh, Shin Tae-yong and his team have a great chance to continue to the third qualifying round.
Lam Thou
