Coach Kim Sang-sik revealed that veteran player Nguyen Van Quyet is considering retiring from international football ahead of the match against India. The coach expressed gratitude towards the seasoned player.
Before being called back to the Vietnam national team, Van Quyet had shown impressive form at Hanoi FC. In the match against India on October 12, he was introduced in the second half when the score was tied at 1-1 and made a significant impact. From the moment the 1991-born player entered the field, Vietnam’s attacks became more dynamic and sharp, though unfortunately, he could not help secure a win for the team. After the game, Van Quyet announced his retirement from international football.
In the post-match press conference, coach Kim Sang-sik spoke about the veteran player: “Van Quyet shared with me his plan to retire. Today, he didn’t play for long but still received a lot of attention from the media and Vietnamese fans. I want to thank him for his contributions to the national team. I recalled him because Vietnam lacks strikers. In this match, I had to play Bui Vi Hao as the central forward. I believe both Vi Hao and Tien Linh are talented forwards, and Vi Hao will improve in the future.”
The coach also addressed another experienced player, Que Ngoc Hai. In this match, the Binh Duong FC defender missed a penalty and was at fault for the marking error that led to India’s equalizing goal. However, Ngoc Hai made several excellent tackles and delivered many quality passes upfield.
Coach Kim Sang-sik commented: “Que Ngoc Hai has been with the national team for a long time and is a model captain. However, I think he felt the pressure, especially after conceding the goal. Nonetheless, he is a good player, and I will speak with him after the match.”
Regarding the tactics and game plan, the coach shared: “At the start, I fielded new players like Vi Hao and Ngoc Quang, and I was satisfied with their performance. In the second half, we faced more difficulties and couldn’t score more goals, but I’m pleased with the result today. I want to give more opportunities to the new players. They played well. We are considering whether to use a three-center-back system or stick with the traditional four-defender formation.”
Vietnam struggled to impose their game on India, partly due to the subdued performance of Nguyen Hoang Duc, who was substituted in the second half. Coach Kim Sang-sik explained that the new Ninh Binh FC player has not yet reached full fitness and needs to improve.
Despite the challenges, the coach remains optimistic about the team’s future, as he continues to assess the squad and explore tactical options leading up to future competitions.
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