Vietnam’s emphatic 5-0 victory against Myanmar in the final group stage match of the ASEAN Cup 2024 left coach Kim Sang-sik and his players, particularly Nguyen Xuan Son, overjoyed. The team’s dominant performance secured their place in the semifinals with confidence and style.
In the post-match press conference, Coach Kim shared his thoughts on the game: “Once we scored the second goal, the team played with greater confidence, knowing that we were heading to the semifinals. I don’t want to delve too much into the changes on the pitch as I wanted to observe the players’ coordination. I also gave opportunities to players like Thanh Long, who hadn’t had much game time in this tournament. My goal was for the players to give their all.”
The South Korean coach also extended his gratitude to the fans and leadership: “First and foremost, on behalf of the entire team, I want to thank our supporters, especially those who came to the stadium today to cheer for us. I also want to express my appreciation to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.”
Kim was full of praise for Nguyen Xuan Son, who delivered a sensational debut performance with two goals and two assists. “Xuan Son gave everything in his debut for the Vietnam national team,” he remarked. “He has proven that he deserves this jersey. Additionally, the entire team played with 200% effort. I believe the players performed exceptionally well today.”
Xuan Son’s outstanding display earned him the Man of the Match honor. The naturalized Brazilian striker also addressed the press, reflecting on an incident during the match where he faced provocation and discrimination. “Their number 4 (Soe Moe Kyaw) said I wasn’t Vietnamese,” Xuan Son revealed. “I told him I’ve been here for five years and feel at home. My family and I practice singing the national anthem every day. I want to say that I deeply respect Vietnam and its people who always support us. I aim to train and improve myself continuously, and in 2-3 years, I hope to communicate with everyone fluently in Vietnamese.”
Xuan Son also shared his emotions following his incredible debut: “I’m extremely happy. Tonight is a special night for me, the fans, and my teammates. I’ll never forget today, the support from the coaching staff and the fans. I’m truly enjoying this moment.”
The victory sets Vietnam on a high note as they prepare for their semifinal clash against Singapore. With Xuan Son’s stellar debut, the team looks forward to maintaining their momentum in the next stage of the tournament.
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