Coach Mai Duc Chung: 'Vietnam does not come to the World Cup to travel'
"The US team is superior in terms of class compared to Vietnam. But we don't come here to travel. It can be said that the US team is like a high mountain, blocking the front. But that's not why we falter. Vietnam will have a reasonable match. Our first goal is to limit goals, avoid injuries. If we score a goal, everything will be even better," shared coach Mai Duc Chung in the morning of July 21, " coach Mai Duc Chung.
The Vietnamese women's team is present in New Zealand from July 5. The team played the last two friendlies, losing to New Zealand 0-2 and Spain 0-9 respectively.
At this time, coach Mai Duc Chung and his students are still in the process of getting used to the weather and yard conditions in New Zealand. The Vietnamese team is unlikely to have midfielder Duong Thi Van in the opening match because the original Ha Nam player was injured after a collision with teammate Pham Hai Yen on the training ground.
"We feel honored. This is the first time the Vietnamese women's team has attended the World Cup. We are proud to represent the whole country. The Vietnamese team comes here with the main purpose of learning experience. Because the team is still young, we need to learn from all other opponents. We come from an undeveloped football area. However, Southeast Asia is proud to have two representatives, Vietnam and the Philippines, at this tournament," coach Mai Duc Chung said.
Vietnam will play its opening match against the US World Cup champion at 12pm on Saturday, July 22, at 8am on the same day in Hanoi time, at Eden Park in Auckland - New Zealand's largest city. In the group stage of the World Cup 2019, the US defeated the Southeast Asian representative Thailand with the tournament's record score of 13-0.
Security is a matter of concern before the Vietnam-US battle. FIFA and host New Zealand sent a police officer to closely monitor the team's activities, combined with other security staff on duty 24/7 at locations such as hotels and training grounds. This work is further tightened after the shooting that left three people dead this morning in the city of Auckland.
After meeting the US, Vietnam will face the runner-up of the World Cup 2019 Netherlands on July 27 and Portugal on August 1.
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