Midfielder Hoang Duc talks about his opponent Malaysia

Midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc affirmed that the match against Malaysia in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup is the most important match in 2025 for the Vietnamese team, and hopes to have a good match with his teammates against this opponent on June 10 at Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur.

Before the news that the home team has strengthened its squad with many quality naturalized players such as Gabriel Palmero, Hector Hevel, Facundo Garces and Imanol Machuca. Commenting on the home team in the upcoming match, Hoang Duc said: “This time, the Malaysian team has many new naturalized players. We have watched them on video. It has been three years since the Vietnamese team met Malaysia. Hopefully the upcoming match will be a good match.”

After the first round, both Vietnam and Malaysia have 3 points, but coach Kim Sang-sik's team temporarily leads Group F thanks to a better secondary index. Currently, the Vietnamese team is facing many difficulties in terms of personnel when many key players are injured such as: Nguyen Van Toan, Nguyen Xuan Son, Bui Vi Hao, Doan Ngoc Tan, Vu Van Thanh, Nguyen Thanh Binh and Bui Hoang Viet Anh.

Recently, striker Nguyen Cong Phuong was forced to leave the national team due to a foot plantar fasciitis injury and will need about two weeks to recover. To replace him, coach Kim Sang Sik has called up young striker Nguyen Quoc Viet from the Vietnam U22 team.

Talking about Cong Phuong's absence from the national team, Hoang Duc expressed: "My brothers and I are all sad that Cong Phuong cannot continue to accompany the team in the upcoming period. It has been a long time since Phuong returned to the team. He, like the other members, are very important to the team."