Hanoi, 25 August 2026 – Coach Kim Sang-sik appeared alongside striker Nguyen Dinh Bac at the pre-match press conference ahead of the decisive second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final against Thailand.
Kim walked into the press room holding the hand of Dinh Bac, who has scored five goals at this year’s tournament. Both appeared relaxed and confident, with the South Korean coach smiling warmly as he greeted the Vietnamese media.
Vietnam head into the return leg at My Dinh National Stadium holding a 2-0 advantage following their impressive victory at Rajamangala Stadium. Despite that commanding position, Kim stressed that the job is far from finished.
“After months of training, the Vietnam national team is now just one final match away from the championship. We will try to produce a great performance and create some wonderful memories.”
Kim believes the August 26 showdown could become a landmark occasion for Vietnamese football and called on supporters to create a special atmosphere at My Dinh.
“This match will be written into the history of Vietnamese football, and the players will be the main characters in that story. I hope the fans will come to the stadium in large numbers to support the team.”
Sitting alongside his coach, Dinh Bac expressed similar determination. The 22-year-old admitted he was not at his physical best during the first leg in Bangkok but promised a stronger performance if given another opportunity.
“Tomorrow is the final match. My teammates and I are very excited, and we will give everything to deliver a victory for the fans. In the first leg, I was a little tired and wasn’t completely satisfied, but I will come back stronger in the second leg.”
Responding to a question from a South Korean journalist, Kim thanked the Korean media for following Vietnam’s campaign and once again spoke highly of Dinh Bac’s potential.
“Thank you to the Korean journalists who have come here to cover the Vietnam national team and share our story with fans in Korea. The team and I will do our best to bring joy to supporters in both countries. As I have said before, I hope Dinh Bac can perform not only domestically but also abroad. He can become even better in the future.”
Dinh Bac responded by emphasizing that Vietnam’s players remain fully grounded despite their two-goal advantage.
“Our feet are still firmly on the ground. No matter who starts, every player shares the same determination and commitment.”
Kim echoed that message, making clear that Vietnam will not approach the second leg simply looking to protect their lead.
“Although we won the first leg 2-0, the reality is that we still have nothing in our hands yet. Vietnam will not become complacent.”
The mood briefly became lighter when Kim was asked whether he would dance again if Vietnam successfully defended their ASEAN Cup crown.
“If the players and supporters want me to, I’ll dance. I hope Bac and I can celebrate by dancing together.”
Dinh Bac quickly joined in with a smile.
“If we become champions tomorrow, I think the whole team will dance, not just the coach and me.”
Interest surrounding the final has reached fever pitch. Kim joked that he might need to switch off his phone because so many people have contacted him asking for tickets. Dinh Bac also acknowledged the extraordinary demand, saying the players appreciate the support even though tickets have become extremely difficult to obtain.
The striker was also asked about the tournament’s Golden Boot race. Both Dinh Bac and Nguyen Xuan Son have scored five goals, but he insisted personal recognition comes second to the team’s objective.
“Neither Xuan Son nor I am putting pressure on ourselves over individual achievements. Winning the championship with the national team would be the greatest success for both of us. If we get the opportunity to play, we will both give everything.”
Kim was then reminded of Vietnam’s painful experience at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, when U23 Vietnam entered their semifinal against China in high spirits but suffered a 3-0 defeat.
The coach insisted his players understand that nothing can be taken for granted, regardless of their first-leg advantage over Thailand.
“We have been preparing for tomorrow’s match for more than two months and have sacrificed time with our families. We have reached the final and are now very close to the title, so we cannot become complacent and throw everything away. The players themselves understand what they need to do and what mentality they must have.”
Dinh Bac offered perhaps the clearest indication of how Vietnam intend to approach the title decider: forget the 2-0 advantage and treat the second leg as an entirely new contest.
“We don’t consider ourselves to have an advantage. In our minds, the score is still 0-0. Vietnam will do everything possible to make sure the past does not repeat itself.”
Vietnam host Thailand at My Dinh National Stadium on August 26, carrying a 2-0 aggregate lead and standing one match away from successfully defending their ASEAN Cup crown.
VSN/RPT
Leave a Reply