Vietnam’s head coach Diego Giustozzi acknowledges Thailand’s strength but says his team is confident and at ease, with the pressure of advancing from the group stage already lifted at the 2026 AFC Futsal Asian Cup.

“This will definitely be a tough match. Thailand has a new coach. Their current playing style resembles many clubs in their domestic league  -  high intensity and direct attacks,” said Giustozzi, previewing the final Group B game.

“In the past, under their Spanish coach Rodrigo Miguel, they preferred ball control and horizontal play. Now, they’re more aggressive.”

Giustozzi praised Thailand as one of the top futsal teams in Asia, but placed full trust in his players.

“I believe in them. We’ve already achieved our goal of making it out of the group, so the pressure is off. Our squad is young, and many players are experiencing an AFC-level tournament for the first time,” he said.

“The team now enters the match with a relaxed mindset, ready to enjoy the game and fight for a win to secure the top spot in the group. Thailand will surely be well-prepared to limit our play, but we’ve also made thorough preparations to neutralize their strengths.”

Looking ahead, Giustozzi said his next goal is to reach the semifinals  -  a challenging task given the current competitiveness in Asian futsal.

“We’re a new team, and our long-term goal is to qualify for the next World Cup. But I believe we’ve achieved a good balance, especially in midfield, and we can stay focused for the full 40 minutes. With that, we can compete and even beat the best in Asia,” the Argentine coach declared.

In the quarterfinals, Vietnam will face either Indonesia or Iraq. Asked about his preferred opponent, Giustozzi admitted he would rather play Iraq.

“The two teams have very different styles. Iraq has strong, technically skilled players with good physicality. Indonesia plays more like us  -  fast-paced, intense, and direct,” he said.

“Right now, Indonesia is among Asia’s strongest teams and plays in front of about 15,000 home fans. So, if I had to choose, I’d prefer to face Iraq. Not because they’re weaker  -  the teams are on par  -  but it would be less intense than playing in that electrifying Indonesian atmosphere.”

The match between Vietnam and Thailand is scheduled to kick off at 3:00 PM on January 31.

Dai Nam