Coach Kim Sang Sik: 'The victory over Indonesia has brightened everything up'

Coach Kim Sang Sik was pleased with the 3-0 victory on Indonesian soil, which also lifted Vietnam to the summit of Group A in the ASEAN Cup 2026.

The Korean manager praised his players' fighting spirit and also highly valued those who were given a chance, especially Nguyen Hai Long and Truong Tien Anh.

Speaking after the match at Pakansari Stadium (Bogor), Kim Sang Sik admitted that this was one of the toughest challenges Vietnam faced in the group stage.

"It was a very difficult away game. We gave our all to earn the win. With these three points, our situation is shining brightly," Kim Sang Sik shared.

The 49-year-old coach also expressed his thanks to the players and the fans who have always stood by the team.

"I want to thank the players for their full effort. I also thank the fans at the stadium and those back home who cheered for us on television. Now our focus will be on the next match," he said.

The South Korean tactician stated that Vietnam's preparation for Indonesia was no different from that for Singapore. According to him, the difference came from the players who were given opportunities making the most of their chance to prove themselves.

"Actually, the preparation for the match against Indonesia was the same as for Singapore; we didn't do anything differently. However, the players given a chance today played with full commitment and left a very good impression, especially Hai Long," Kim Sang Sik commented.

In addition to midfielder Nguyen Hai Long, Kim Sang Sik also had special praise for Truong Tien Anh after his energetic performance on the flank.

"Tien Anh covered a lot of ground, and that was exactly what we needed to execute our tactics. He is a big player for the team. Today many of our chances came from Tien Anh's contributions."

The 3-0 victory over Indonesia lifted Vietnam to the top of Group A in the 2026 ASEAN Cup with seven points from three matches, creating a major advantage in the race for a semi-final spot.

In the final matchday on August 7, Kim Sang Sik's squad will return home to host Cambodia, aiming to finish the group stage in first place.