Kuala Lumpur, 15 August 2026 – Coach Kim Sang-sik has expressed confidence in his players ahead of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinal first leg against Malaysia, while acknowledging the difficulty of facing the Harimau Malaya on their home soil in Kuala Lumpur.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference on August 15, Kim said he was proud to have guided Vietnam into the last four and stressed that the team’s ultimate objective remains reaching the final.
“We are honored to be in the semifinals. The entire team will give everything to repay the support we have received and work toward our common goal of reaching the final. In the first match against Malaysia, we will try to achieve the best possible result.”
However, the South Korean coach expects a demanding contest, particularly with Malaysia enjoying home advantage in the opening leg.
“The semifinals will not be easy. This match is also being played away from home, so we need to give our absolute best to perform well tomorrow.”
Vietnam at Full Strength
Vietnam have been working to adapt to the conditions in Kuala Lumpur, with the playing surface among the areas receiving particular attention ahead of the match.
“The players need to get used to the new playing surface.”
More importantly for Kim, Vietnam enter the semifinal with a healthy squad and no major injury concerns.
“There are no injured players in the Vietnam squad, and everyone is in good physical condition.”
Assessing Malaysia, Kim highlighted the balance within their tactical setup and identified their usual 4-4-2 formation as one of the areas Vietnam have studied carefully.
“Malaysia often use a 4-4-2 formation and show good balance in their play. They are a strong team. We will try to analyze their weaknesses as thoroughly as possible in preparation for tomorrow and hopefully achieve a positive result.”
Kim also played down comparisons with Vietnam’s previous meetings against Malaysia. With Tan Cheng Hoe now back in charge, he believes Sunday’s semifinal represents a completely different challenge.
“Tan Cheng Hoe had not been appointed when I faced Malaysia in our most recent meeting, so it is difficult to make too many comparisons. This is a completely new match between Malaysia and Vietnam.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the opponent, Kim insisted there is no ambiguity about what Vietnam want from the first leg.
“Our objective is very clear: to achieve a good result. The players have very high morale and motivation.”
Kim Refuses to Underestimate Malaysia
Malaysia’s squad situation was another major topic at the press conference, particularly the absence of several naturalized players. Kim rejected suggestions that those absences make Malaysia an ideal opponent or significantly simplify Vietnam’s task.
“The Malaysian players have good technical ability. The coaching staff and our defenders have carefully analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of each player. It is not too big an issue because football is not only about individuals; it is about the team. I believe we will achieve a good result tomorrow.”
Vietnam reached the semifinals after finishing unbeaten at the top of their group. Kim credited the achievement to the commitment of his players and the coaching staff’s detailed preparation for each opponent.
“During the group stage, every player gave their best, showed commitment and performed well. We carefully analyzed every opponent and prepared thoroughly for each match. That is why we were able to reach the semifinals.”
However, Kim stressed that knockout football brings a completely different level of pressure and motivation.
“The group stage is completely different from the semifinals. At this stage, the players have greater motivation and we prepare even more carefully. The most important things remain the players’ commitment and relentless effort, together with the support of our fans. If we continue to receive that support, it will be wonderful for our future and our final result.”
22-Match Unbeaten Run Is Motivation, Not Pressure
Vietnam enter the semifinal carrying an impressive 22-match unbeaten streak, but Kim does not view the record as an additional burden. Instead, he wants his players to use it as motivation to continue building on what they have achieved.
“Obviously, the unbeaten run is a very noteworthy result and achievement. We need to maintain and extend it because it has become part of our history. To do that, every player has to give their absolute best.”
At the same time, the Vietnam coach emphasized that preserving a record cannot become more important than the immediate challenge in front of his team.
“Our current record is good, but each individual match is more important than anything else. I want to use this foundation to continue improving both the team and every individual player.”
One lighter detail also attracted attention at the press conference. Kim avoided wearing the white shirt that has jokingly been associated with bad luck following Vietnam’s 0-0 draw against Singapore earlier in the tournament. Instead, the South Korean coach appeared in the coaching staff’s blue shirt as Vietnam prepared for their latest test.
With a place in the final at stake, Vietnam will now look to turn their confidence and unbeaten momentum into a positive result against Malaysia before returning to Hanoi for the decisive second leg.
VSN/RPT
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