Vietnam - India football match at 6pm today: Finding positive energy

Since September 2023, Vietnam has played 16 matches, with three wins and 13 losses, marking a period of performance crisis after the success of the previous 5 years. In the last three official matches, Vietnam lost 1-3 to Iraq in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, 0-3 to Russia and 1-2 to Thailand in the September friendly series.

The two training sessions of Vietnam did not go as expected. Last month, the storm No. 3 had a negative impact, as it lacked attraction even though the two opponents were big names. This time, Lebanon withdrew on the eve of the event due to domestic unrest.

With only one friendly match left, the coaching staff had to change their plans. Three days ago, the team won 3-2 against Nam Dinh, but it was only a practice match to hone tactics and test the players.

Defeating India is the goal Vietnam is aiming for to relieve the pressure. Coach Kim Sang-sik is well aware of the difficulties and said that he is trying his best to create positive energy for the whole team. "Football must also bring joy to fans after each match," said the Korean coach.

After five months of working, the names summoned by coach Kim Sang-sik are almost no different from those of his predecessor Philippe Troussier. However, he believes that the group of young players such as Thai Son, Dinh Bac, Vi Hao... are talented, bring new energy and are connecting well with the experience of the senior generation.

Vietnam will likely be without the services of central defender Bui Hoang Viet Anh and striker Nguyen Tien Linh due to injury. However, Viet Anh was absent from the September matches, so the defense is considered intact.

In the attack, three names born after 2003, Dinh Bac, Bui Vi Hao and Quoc Viet, have more opportunities to show themselves. Besides, how coach Kim will use "veteran" Nguyen Van Quyet in his first call-up is also a detail of interest.

On the FIFA rankings, Vietnam is ranked 116th, 10 places higher than India. The world's most populous country has never been highly regarded for football, with cricket and kabaddi being the national sports. Even at its peak, India only climbed to 94th place in the world in 1996.

In fact, India have been on a downward spiral since the peak of the legendary Sunil Chhetri. Since September 2023, India have played 14 matches, of which they have lost nine and won one. The defeat in the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers was somewhat bitter, with refereeing errors in the final 1-2 defeat to Qatar. After that, the team parted ways with coach Igor Stimac and appointed Manolo Marquez two months ago.

Coach Marquez highly appreciated Vietnam for having made certain steps in football development. But he is confident that together with India, he will cause many difficulties for the opponent, to end the series of disappointing matches in recent times. The basis for the 56-year-old coach to rely on is that he has collected enough information about Vietnam and has a way to deal with it.

In the past, Vietnam met India three times, all in friendly matches, winning 2-1 (2004), losing 1-3 (2010) and winning 3-0 (2022). The most recent match under coach Park Hang-seo was to prepare for the 2022 AFF Cup, with Phan Van Duc, Van Toan and Van Quyet scoring.