Vietnam U22 team is determined to win a spot in the men's football final at the 33rd SEA Games.

(NLDO) - The Vietnam U22 team is considered stronger than the Philippines U22 team in the men's football semi-final at the 33rd SEA Games, which will take place at 3:30 PM on December 15th.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of the semi-final match against the Philippines U22 at the 33rd SEA Games, coach Kim Sang-sik expressed his high level of determination, emphasizing: "No matter what happens in tomorrow's match, we will definitely fight and win."

In his opening remarks at the press conference, coach Kim Sang-sik expressed satisfaction with the Vietnamese U22 team's journey in the group stage, while emphasizing that his and his players' goal does not stop at the semi-finals. The South Korean coach affirmed that the players have made comprehensive preparations in terms of tactics, physical fitness, and spirit, ready to fight their hardest to win.

Coach Kim Sang-sik stated that the U22 Vietnam team's strength has improved significantly with the return of many players, resulting in a more stable lineup. Despite having previously defeated U22 Philippines 2-1 in the semi-finals of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, Coach Kim emphasized that the upcoming match will be very different and there will be no room for complacency.

According to coach Kim Sang-sik, the semi-final will be a major challenge for both teams, and each side is highly determined. He believes that physical fitness and mental strength will play a key role, and noted that the U22 Philippines team has shown significant improvement in terms of playing style and individual quality compared to their previous encounter.

“Both teams are determined to win, so they will be well-prepared. The team that excels physically and mentally will win. The Philippines have improved both in terms of organization and individual players. Therefore, we also need to prepare a suitable plan to counter them. U22 Vietnam will definitely overcome the difficulties and win. We promise to fight with all our honor!” - Coach Kim affirmed.

For his part, captain Khuat Van Khang assessed the match against U22 Philippines as a highly anticipated game, because having reached the semi-finals, every opponent is strong. The midfielder, born in 2003, said that the whole team is not under too much pressure, as they have prepared thoroughly and trained diligently throughout the regional and continental tournaments.

Van Khang emphasized that the lessons learned from the previous SEA Games are a motivation for the U22 Vietnam team to mature and be determined to perform well in the upcoming match. He also affirmed that whether the match lasts 90 or 120 minutes, the entire team will maintain their fighting spirit and highest level of confidence, and expressed gratitude to the fans who came to the stadium to cheer or watched on television for their unwavering support and encouragement.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/u22-viet-nam-quyet-gianh-suat-vao-chung-ket-bong-da-nam-sea-games-33-196251214155707915.htm