The South Korean strategist and his players have thoroughly analyzed their Singaporean opponents and are determined to secure victory in the 2024 ASEAN Cup semifinal.
Speaking to the media in the pre-match press conference for the first leg against Singapore, Coach Kim Sang Sik stated: “We have conducted thorough analyses of the opponent and will focus on applying pressure at the right moments. The entire team is well-prepared for the match against Singapore, and we hope to deliver our best performance.”
While Singapore is not considered a top contender in this year’s tournament, their strong performances earned them a spot in the semifinals. Coach Kim acknowledged this by saying: “We have measures to neutralize their strengths and will aim to exploit their mistakes to achieve a favorable result.”
In this crucial semifinal, Vietnam will be without Van Toan due to injury. However, Coach Kim expressed confidence in his alternative plans and highlighted the team’s preparation to contain Singapore’s key forward, Anuar.
“We have carefully studied Anuar’s movements and finishing abilities, as well as other attacking strategies employed by Singapore, to ensure effective defensive measures,” he said.
When asked about Xuan Son, Vietnam’s star player in the 2024 ASEAN Cup, Coach Kim remarked: “Xuan Son delivered an outstanding performance against Myanmar, contributing two goals and two assists. His display has attracted attention from opponents, the media, and fans across Southeast Asia.
However, with increased attention comes greater pressure. I believe Xuan Son has the composure and resilience to handle this. Not only him, but all our players are accustomed to performing under pressure. Most importantly, we are a united team that supports one another to overcome challenges and achieve positive outcomes.”
Midfielder Hoang Duc, who joined Coach Kim in the press conference, shared insights into the team’s preparation: “The team has held two meetings to analyze Singapore. They often utilize long balls and target the midfield. The coaching staff has devised defensive strategies to counter these approaches.
Additionally, Singapore tends to build from the back but occasionally makes mistakes. Vietnam will work hard to capitalize on these weaknesses in tomorrow’s match.”
On the Singaporean side, Coach Tsutomu Ogura praised Vietnam and Xuan Son but emphasized the importance of team dynamics: “Nguyen Xuan Son is a talented player with experience in Japan, and his debut for Vietnam demonstrated his quality. However, football is not about an individual. On the field, it’s 11 against 11, and it’s a team game.”
The first leg between Singapore and Vietnam will kick off at 8:00 PM on December 26.
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