Huynh Nhu wants to score in the World Cup
* Vietnam - Portugal: 2:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27, on MetaSports.
"It would be great to score," Huynh Nhu said this afternoon on July 26 at the press conference before the Portugal match in the second round of Group E. "It is the desire of every player when coming to the World Cup".
According to the 32-year-old striker, not only her, many teammates are also eager to score goals to help Vietnam make history in the World Cup. "For a first-time World Cup team like Vietnam, a goal at this time is extremely valuable to aim for the biggest wish - to win. We all crave that," Huynh Nhu added.
After the opening match, losing 0-3 to the US, Vietnam will meet Portugal - a rival Huynh Nhu has a certain understanding when playing for Lank FC in this country's national championship for the past year. According to Huynh Nhu, the atmosphere in the Lank team became vibrant and excited as soon as the visit brought Vietnam and Portugal into the same group at the 2023 World Cup.
"Everybody in Lank expected me not to score against Portugal," said the Vietnamese women's captain. "Many members of the team even joked that if I scored, they wouldn't let me play again in Portugal."
Of the 23 Portuguese players attending the 2023 Women's World Cup, none belong to Lank FC. But 17 of them are playing in the country, mainly belonging to the three strongest clubs in the league - Braga, Sporting CP and Benfica. Huynh Nhu all lost with a strong score when he and Lank faced these opponents. The striker born in 1991 admitted that the Portuguese players are very strong, rich in strength but also very skillful.
According to Huynh Nhu, number 10 striker Jessica Silva is the most dangerous player on the Portuguese side. She has scored 13 goals in 100 matches for the national team. "Although Portugal lost to the Netherlands 0-1 in the opening match, Silva showed his agility and technique. Vietnam's defense system will have to pay close attention to this striker."
Despite the defeat in the opening match, in theory, the Vietnamese women have not given up hope of continuing in Group E. Huynh Nhu insists that she will take full advantage of her experience of playing in Portugal, from the past matches with major rivals such as the US, Germany, and Spain to help the team achieve good results in the remaining two group stage matches, against Portugal tomorrow and the Netherlands on August 1.
"It is an honor and pride to participate in the World Cup," Huynh Nhu shared. "We have to focus all our efforts, trying to show the spirit of Vietnamese football."
