Futsal

Vietnamese players in a training session in preparation for the Asian Futsal Cup 2026 in Indonesia. Photo courtesy of VFF

HÀ NỘI Head coach Diego Giustozzi believes Việt Nam can overcome even the strongest opponents at the upcoming Asian Futsal Cup in Indonesia if his players are able to maintain consistent performances throughout the tournament.

The Vietnamese squad have been training in HCM City since early this month and will open their Group B campaign against Kuwait on January 27, followed by Lebanon on January 29 and Thailand two days later.

After 10 days of practice, Giustozzi said the key area for improvement was consistency over the full course of the competition.

“We can beat any team, but we can also completely fail in a tournament if we don't maintain consistency,” he said.

His assessment was based on the team’s journey at the recent 33rd SEA Games, where Việt Nam showed an up-and-down run of form.

The team recorded alternating results across four matches, winning two and losing two.

“We weren't good at finishing in the first match against Malaysia, while our opponents capitalised on opportunities more effectively. An early 4-2 defeat in such an important event created immense pressure,” he said.

“The players did a better job in beating Indonesia, who eventually won the gold medal, 1-0 in the next match. However, when playing Thailand, they couldn't maintain their momentum, losing 2-1. A 2-1 win over Myanmar in the last match wasn't enough to help us achieve our target.”

Despite the mixed results, the Argentine coach said the experience allowed him to better assess his team’s ability and potential.

“You can see, we could fairly compete with world-level Thailand and beat strong Indonesia. When they are focused and playing at their best, Việt Nam are fully capable of winning against any opponent,” he said.

Coach Diego Giustozzi (right) discus with his assistants. Photo courtesy of VFF

In the Asian championship, Giustozzi will be without captain Phạm Đức Hòa, who decided to retire after the SEA Games.

He said this would be a major blow to the national team but also an opportunity for younger players to show their talent and claim the vacant place.

“It is normal in sport. The important thing is that his junior teammates have shown excellent performances in many matches and they will definitely shoulder the heavy duty,” he said.

“However, it is still a young squad and the players need time to fully develop. It is easy to understand that, due to their youth, their form may be inconsistent, fluctuating between highs and lows. Therefore, to achieve good results, they need more time to hone their experience and competitive spirit.”

The young squad will receive a strong boost as three experienced alas (midfielders) Ngô Ngọc Sơn, Trần Thái Huy and Châu Đoàn Phát return to the team after injuries.

“They will help strengthen the team’s power and make our plans run smoother,” said Giustozzi, who is targeting a semi-finals finish.

Việt Nam will play two friendly matches against Afghanistan on January 19 and 21 as tests for the Asian championship.

The coaching board will review players’ performances and the team’s tactics before finalising the official squad. VNS