Huynh Nhu: 'Vietnamese women do not refuse the possibility of defeating the US'

* Vietnam - USA: 8 am on 22/7, on MetaSports.

"In football, it is impossible to predict anything. In the 2022 Men's World Cup, the champion Argentina team lost to Saudi Arabia. That shows that football always has hidden surprises. We do not think we will win the US tomorrow, but promise to play with the best efforts of Vietnamese women," Huynh Nhu said at a press conference on the morning of July 21. before the opening match of the World Cup 2023.

When asked by an American reporter about the possibility of winning the Vietnamese women's match tomorrow, Huynh Nhu smiled and replied: "If we win, that would be great. And we do not refuse that possibility."

Vietnam is one of the least known teams at the 2023 World Cup. Information about Huynh Nhu and his teammates is quite meager compared to opponents. Vietnam's play style was only partially shown through two friendly matches before the tournament, losing 0-2 to New Zealand and 0-9 to Spain.

At the 2023 World Cup, Vietnam is in the same group with the US champion, the 2019 runner-up Netherlands and Portugal. The team will meet the US in the opening match on July 22 at Eden Park with a capacity of 50,000 seats, in Auckland - New Zealand's largest city. At the 2019 World Cup, the US won the Southeast Asian representative Thailand with a record score of 13-0 in tournament history. Many people fear that the same scenario will happen to Huynh Nhu and his teammates.

"We have gone through a difficult journey to be here. Vietnam is not a strong team compared to the world level, but we are always proud and will do our best to bring the image of Vietnamese people to the world, thereby inspiring Vietnamese football to develop in the future. I want to tell the young players that as long as you keep working hard, you will realize your dream today," Huynh Nhu said.

Huynh Nhu is the only member of Vietnamese women attending the 2023 World Cup who is playing abroad. She played 23 games, scored seven goals, and assisted twice for Lank Vilaverdense in the Portuguese second division last season. Lank wants to keep the Vietnamese captain for another season, and the two sides are negotiating a contract extension.

Fortunately, with the support of his family, Huynh Nhu became acquainted with football from an early age. Under the guidance of his father, a former player, the striker born in 1991 trained with male peers before becoming a professional player. Up to now, Huynh Nhu has won the Vietnam Golden Ball five times, won seven national championships with Ho Chi Minh City Club, won the AFF Cup 2019 and won the SEA Games gold medal four times with the Vietnamese team.

"For me like the Vietnamese female players, my family is a great source of motivation. Therefore, I am very happy when my parents take the time to come here to encourage me. Sometimes I remember the old days, when I played plastic soccer or used coconuts to practice. Now, everything is different. I can attend the World Cup. It can be said that it is a fairy tale come true for me," Huynh Nhu said.

The Vietnamese captain also thanked the fans for their support and urged fans to believe in the team at the 2023 World Cup. She said that she and her teammates had prepared mentally to give their best in every match, no matter who the opponent was. Huynh Nhu said she often talked to encourage the team's morale before each match, but refused to reveal details.

When asked if Thailand's 0-13 loss four years ago scared Vietnam, Huynh Nhu replied: "We are already prepared. Vietnam has experience against top teams before the tournament, so there is nothing to fear."