Coach Diego Raul Giustozzi shared that the Vietnamese futsal team is ready to face the challenges at the Southeast Asia Championship, aiming for the highest goal.

“We’ve had limited time to build the squad, but the Vietnamese futsal team is here with a longer-term vision. This is a great opportunity for players to gain valuable experience competing internationally against strong teams,” Coach Diego Raul Giustozzi said ahead of the 2024 Southeast Asia Futsal Championship opener.

Regarding the team’s lineup, Coach Diego said, “Nguyen Minh Tri is absent due to injury. He’s a key player, but I’m not dwelling on his absence. We have young players in the squad, and I’m focused on the team we have here. We’re here to compete and find ways to win matches.”

Assessing the competition, Coach Diego stated, “I think Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Australia are all strong teams. Each team has an equal chance of advancing and ultimately winning the championship. Personally, I’m hoping for the title. But I’m not only aiming to defeat opponents; I want to accomplish even more. I have the confidence to make that happen.”

The 2024 Southeast Asia Futsal Championship will be held from November 2 to November 10 in Thailand. Vietnam is in Group A with Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei, and Timor Leste. Group B includes Indonesia, Myanmar, Australia, and Cambodia.

Teams will play in a round-robin format to determine rankings within each group. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals. In their first match on November 2, Vietnam will face Timor Leste.

Dai Nam