Coach Kim Sang-sik backs Vietnam to beat Cambodia, seal Group A top spot

Vietnam host Cambodia at My Dinh Stadium at 8 p.m. on August 7, knowing that victory would secure first place in the group and provide momentum heading into the knockout stage.

The defending champions sit top of Group A with seven points from three matches, level with Singapore but ahead on tiebreakers. Cambodia, with three points, have already been eliminated. In theory, Vietnam could still lose their semifinal place if they suffer a heavy defeat and Singapore beats Indonesia by a sufficiently favorable margin. However, such an outcome is considered highly unlikely given the current standings and the teams' respective strength.

Coach Kim Sang-sik said Vietnam would not underestimate Cambodia despite the gulf in FIFA rankings.

"Based on the FIFA rankings, Vietnam are much stronger than Cambodia. We may make some changes to the lineup for this match to prepare for the semifinals. However, we still respect our opponents and must give our best," Coach Kim Sang-sik told reporters at a press conference on August 6.

The coach's comments came as Vietnam manages a number of fitness concerns while balancing the need to maintain their competitive edge. Several players missed the team's training session on August 5, including goalkeepers Dang Van Lam and Patrik Le Giang, as well as Hoang Hen and Tai Loc, after experiencing health problems and being given time to recover.

Patrik Le Giang's absence is particularly significant. He has started all three of Vietnam's matches in the tournament and helped the team maintain a perfect defensive record through the group stage. His possible replacement, young goalkeeper Van Kien, could therefore be handed a major opportunity against Cambodia.

Coach Kim Sang-sik's options extend beyond the goalkeeping position. Vietnam have built considerable depth under the South Korean coach, with Hai Long, Viet Anh, and Dinh Bac among the players who have already demonstrated they can step into the starting lineup without significantly weakening the side.

"The lineup for tomorrow could change to preserve the energy of some players for the semifinals," Coach Kim Sang-sik said. "That said, there is also a fairly long recovery period before the semifinals, so Vietnam will basically try to field the strongest possible team."

Young forward Viet Cuong could also make his first appearance at a major Southeast Asian tournament, and other fringe players may be given valuable minutes if the game develops in Vietnam's favor.

Despite the potential changes, Coach Kim Sang-sik's priority remains clear: three points and top spot.

The coaching staff has already turned their attention toward the next stage, studying possible opponents from Group B. Coach Kim Sang-sik said the teams in that group had undergone significant changes since the previous edition of the competition, making preparation particularly important.

"Over the past few days, my staff and I have watched footage of the teams in Group B. They have made many changes to their squads compared with the previous tournament," he said.

Cambodia, meanwhile, arrive in Hanoi with little pressure after their elimination but remain determined to challenge the defending champions. Head Coach Koji Gyotoku acknowledged the difficulty of the task but said his players would approach the match with a winning mentality.

"We always want to win every match," Coach Koji Gyotoku said. "However, both Cambodia and Vietnam still have objectives in the FIFA ASEAN Cup next month. Some of our players were unable to join the squad this time, so we do not have our strongest lineup. This is also an opportunity for us to assess our personnel, strengthen the squad and prepare better for the upcoming tournament."

Cambodia arrived in Hanoi on August 5 and have had only one official training session at My Dinh Stadium. Their preparations have also been hampered by the absence of several players, with Mat Noron, Sieng Chantha and Abdel Kader Coulibaly returning to their clubs due to injuries and other professional considerations.

Coach Koji Gyotoku nevertheless sees the match as an important learning experience for his squad.

"Facing a strong opponent like Vietnam is a valuable opportunity for our players to gain experience. We want to win, but we understand that it will be very difficult at this moment," he said.

Midfielder Ouk Sovann echoed his coach's determination, saying Cambodia would give their best and look to score against the defending champions.

Vietnam enters the match with a significant advantage in squad quality, home support, and tournament experience. They are also unbeaten in their last 21 matches across all competitions, a run stretching back to a 1-1 draw with India in October 2024.

For Coach Kim Sang-sik, however, the Cambodia match is not merely a formality before the knockout stage. It is an opportunity to preserve Vietnam's momentum, test the squad's depth and secure the psychological advantage of finishing the group stage at the summit.

With the semifinal looming, Vietnam's challenge is to strike the right balance between winning and managing their resources. Coach Kim Sang-sik's message, however, was unequivocal: rotation may be necessary, but the ambition remains unchanged — Vietnam intends to win.