Vietnam’s head coach, Mai Duc Chung, remains determined and resolute despite his team’s elimination from the 2023 Women’s World Cup. With Vietnam unable to advance past the group stage after losses to the USA and Portugal, Coach Chung emphasizes the importance of giving their all in their final match against defending runner-up Netherlands.
At a press conference on Monday, Coach Chung acknowledged the Netherlands’ strength and the difficulty of the upcoming match. He also confirmed that Vietnam would adopt a defensive 5-4-1 formation to counter the Netherlands’ firepower. The head coach reminded his players of the consequences of being too focused on attacking and leaving themselves vulnerable in the back.
He expressed his hope for a strong farewell against a formidable opponent like the Netherlands, stating, “I am hopeful that it will be a strong farewell against opponents who are of very high quality. The Netherlands are not only the 2019 runners-up but are also chasing a place in the knockout stage, and we have to be on top of our game to stop them.”
“We have started a journey, and I have done my best, but it is time for me to bid farewell,” he told reporters.
While his contract with the Vietnam Football Federation is set to expire later in the year, he remains hopeful that the team will continue to progress under new leadership and strive for future World Cup appearances.
“Nobody can keep doing one thing forever,” the head coach said. “There’s an end to everything and it’s time to let someone else take over.” With more than two decades of experience leading the football team and securing 8 gold medals at the SEA Games, Coach Chung is hopeful that the next coach will further improve the team and lead them to future World Cups.
“I encouraged the whole team to compete and fight hard for this game, not only for me but also for all the Vietnamese people at home and abroad,” he added. “Many people have come all the way here to cheer for us. We must keep the spirit of Vietnamese women’s football burning, whether we win or lose.”
Vietnam aims to avoid being the second Asian team to lose all three group-stage matches without scoring, following Japan in 1991. Despite the challenging situation, Coach Chung believes that the team has performed better than expected and has shown great effort in their previous matches.
Looking ahead, the oldest coach in World Cup history acknowledges that this might be his final match in his decorated career. At 73 years old, he has been the most successful domestic coach in Vietnamese football history, leading the national women’s team to achievements in various tournaments.
The match against the Netherlands is scheduled for 2 p.m. (Hanoi time) Tuesday at Forsyth Barr Stadium in New Zealand. Coach Chung and the entire team are determined to compete and fight hard, not just for themselves but for all the Vietnamese people, both at home and abroad. The spirit of Vietnamese women’s football will continue to burn brightly, regardless of the final outcome of the match.