Indonesia, 27 January 2025 – Head coach Diego Giustozzi believes the second half of the win over Kuwait best reflected the identity and mental strength of the Vietnam futsal team in their opening match of the AFC Futsal Asian Cup 2026.
After the 5–4 victory against Kuwait in Group B, Giustozzi spoke frankly about his team’s performance. At the start of the press conference, the Argentine coach praised the stadium atmosphere, saying the strong fan support was great for futsal, and noted that the opening match of any major tournament is always the most difficult.
Analyzing the match, Giustozzi admitted Vietnam needed time to adapt to the pitch and ball. He explained that the team took about 10–15 minutes in the first half to find rhythm, something that has happened before when balance was not maintained across the full 40 minutes. However, he stressed that the second half was “perfect,” with the team playing true to its futsal identity. The key difference, he said, was composure and experience, which helped Vietnam overcome a very tough match.
The coach also acknowledged that the squad still has room to improve. He revealed that this is the first AFC Futsal Asian Cup for eight players in the team, and emphasized that this level of competition is completely different, with the strongest and most experienced teams in Asia. More matches at this level, he said, are essential for development.
Giustozzi expressed satisfaction with his players’ spirit and mentality, praising their strong foundation and fighting attitude. He added that, based on the performance, Vietnam could have won by a larger margin.
Looking ahead to the next match against Lebanon, Giustozzi warned of a different challenge. Lebanon, he said, defend deep and rely on counter-attacks, a style that Vietnam traditionally finds difficult. Still, he reaffirmed his confidence in the team, stating that Vietnam are ready to face any opponent, with the clear objective of securing another three points before thinking further.
Lan Huong
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