On September 2, after a training session in preparation for the upcoming LPBank Cup 2024, Do Hung Dung shared his thoughts on the Russian national team and the current morale of his teammates.
While the entire country is celebrating the National Day holiday, the coaching staff and players of the Vietnam national team have been rigorously preparing for the two upcoming matches in the LPBank Cup 2024. This training camp sees the return of veteran players such as Que Ngoc Hai, Phan Van Duc, and Do Hung Dung.
“As professional players, we are accustomed to this. There have been times when we played matches even on Lunar New Year’s Day. Actually, during these holidays, both national team players and those preparing for the V-League with their clubs are all training. Being able to play and contribute on any day is a joy for us. Our families have also adjusted and become accustomed to us being away during these holiday periods. Nowadays, with technology and social media, we can easily video call or stay in touch with our loved ones, so everything is still normal,” Do Hung Dung shared.
With only a few days remaining until the opening match between Vietnam and Russia, the Vietnamese team is taking their preparation seriously, even though it is only a friendly tournament. Russia is a formidable European team with experience in major tournaments. Both head coach Kim Sang-sik and the players are preparing rigorously for the match. The Russian national team is currently ranked 33rd on the FIFA rankings and has made 11 World Cup and six European Championship appearances.
According to the schedule, the Russian team will arrive in Hanoi on September 4, just one day before the match. However, Do Hung Dung believes this will not be a significant disadvantage for coach Valery Karpin’s squad.
“For professional players on the Russian team, having one or two days to acclimate to the playing conditions isn’t too significant because they have vast high-level experience. The weather might affect them a bit, but I think two days are enough for them to adapt,” Do Hung Dung commented.
The Vietnam national team will continue their daily training sessions at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center. Coach Kim Sang-sik’s squad will have two more days to prepare for their opening match against Russia in the LPBank Cup 2024.
Despite officially taking over the Vietnamese national team since May, Coach Kim Sang-sik has not had much time to work with all the players. In this training camp, he is joined by a new assistant, former national player Pham Thanh Luong, who has won the Vietnam Golden Ball four times. Reflecting on his time playing alongside Pham Thanh Luong, Do Hung Dung expressed his excitement about working with his former teammate in this new capacity.
The Vietnam national team will face Russia on September 5. Following that, on September 7, Thailand will take on Russia, and on September 10, Coach Kim Sang-sik’s side will clash with Thailand.
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