Vietnam National Team Coach Criticizes Playing Surface in Indonesia After 2-0 Victory

Vietnam’s futsal squad edges near a quarter-final berth in the 2026 Asian Cup following their 2-0 victory against Lebanon, yet coach Diego Giustozzi candidly expressed concerns about the condition of the pitch in Indonesia.

Vietnam’s futsal team is very close to clinching a quarter-final place at the 2026 Asian Futsal Cup after a convincing 2-0 win over Lebanon.In the second match of Group B held at Jakarta International Velodrome (Indonesia) on the afternoon of January 29, coach Diego Giustozzi’s team quickly took control of the game and scored two early goals by Đinh Công Viên and Vũ Ngọc Anh. That scoreline remained until the end of the match.

The three points earned against Lebanon give Vietnam’s futsal team a perfect 6 points from two matches. Previously, the red-shirted team defeated Kuwait 5-4 in their opening game. Vietnam will officially qualify for the quarter-finals if Kuwait fails to secure all three points against Thailand.

After the match, coach Diego Giustozzi expressed his satisfaction with his players’ performance.“It was a tough game. We proactively applied pressure, controlled the ball, and performed well at many moments. There were minor issues early on with some final passes lacking precision, but the team improved quickly. After two matches, having six points is a very positive outcome.”the Argentine strategist commented.

However, Giustozzi also frankly pointed out limitations due to the playing conditions. “This surface is not entirely suited to our style of play. In the next match, we will play at a different venue with a different floor. I believe that will be more suitable for futsal.”the head coach of Vietnam’s futsal team stated.

Putting aside the issue of the pitch, coach Giustozzi affirmed that the team’s immediate goal is to prepare as best as possible for the final group stage match against Thailand, a game likely to decide the top spot in Group B. The clash between the two Southeast Asian representatives will take place at Indonesia Arena at 3 PM on January 31.

In this match, Vietnam’s futsal team will be without Ngọc Linh due to suspension following a red card in the game against Lebanon. Coach Giustozzi expressed regret: “From my point of view, it was just a normal foul, maybe the referee didn’t see clearly. Nevertheless, the decision has been made and we have to accept it.”.

Despite playing with one less player, Giustozzi praised his team’s spirit and defensive capabilities. “The positive point is that we defended very well with only 10 players, maintaining solidity in the 3 against 4 situation. Lebanon didn’t create many dangerous attacks, and we kept a good team shape. If we had taken better advantage of our chances, the score might have been higher. But the most important thing remains the three points and our focus on the next match.”the head coach of Vietnam’s futsal team emphasized.