'Vietnam National Team Unconcerned About Malaysia's Sanction'

At a time when public attention focuses on the penalty faced by Malaysia, striker Nguyễn Tiến Linh emphasized that the Vietnam national team is not affected by it and is fully concentrating on the two matches against Nepal in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

During the training session on the afternoon of October 6 at Bình Dương stadium, Tiến Linh shared his thoughts on the issue related to Malaysia - the team that could be banned by FIFA due to fraudulent naturalized player documentation.

“That is a matter for FIFA and the AFC. The Vietnam team does not concern itself with that issue. What matters is that we improve every day and show a better image with each match,” he said.

Tiến Linh stated that the entire team is dedicating their full focus to the two matches against Nepal. “This is a great opportunity for Vietnam to test the squad and the cohesion between young players and experienced ones. The young players are very eager to prove themselves, which is a positive sign for Vietnamese football,” he shared.

Recalling the defeat against Malaysia in the first leg, the striker from Ho Chi Minh City Police Club admitted the team learned valuable lessons. “That day we gave our best effort but unfortunately did not get a good result. I believe if we meet Malaysia again in March next year, the team will show a different, stronger, and more resilient face,” Tiến Linh confidently said.

Additionally, he confirmed his personal goal is to regain his scoring touch in the two matches against Nepal. “As a striker, my duty is always to score goals. In the match against Laos in March, I was unlucky and couldn’t score despite playing at Bình Dương stadium. This time, I will try my best to score to help the team start off well,” Tiến Linh stated.

Returning to Gò Đậu stadium - where he spent many years, Tiến Linh showed clear determination to lead the team towards victory. “We clearly understand our goal: to secure all 6 points against Nepal, then aim for 3 points against Laos in November. The rematch with Malaysia next year will be our chance to prove our progress and ambition to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup finals,” he added.

According to the plan, the Vietnam team will have about a week to prepare before hosting Nepal in the first leg at Gò Đậu stadium on October 9, then travel to Ho Chi Minh City for the second leg at Thống Nhất stadium on October 14. During training, coach Kim Sang-sik continuously experiments with different tactical formations to find the most effective attacking strategy.

With extensive experience and a leadership role in the attack, Tiến Linh is expected to inspire the young players during this training period. He also affirmed that the team’s spirit is very good and external factors will not affect them. “The most important thing is for the whole team to maintain focus, unity, and the desire to win. No matter who the opponent is, Vietnam always aims for the highest goals,” he concluded.

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