“I hope we will repay the debt before Indonesia”

Thus, the Vietnam National Team has returned home after a short journey at the 2023 Asian Cup. Three consecutive defeats against Japan, Indonesia and Iraq made coach Philippe Troussier’s team the only Southeast Asian team to return home without any score? After the tournament, team captain Do Hung Dung had these words to share with the entire team as well as the Vietnam National Team:

“Vietnam national team has not had the desired results in the past 3 matches. We attend the tournament with a force of many players appearing for the first time. However, for me, whether the player is playing or not, we have tried our best in every training session, from the first day to the last. Your efforts and dedication deserve recognition. Let us be proud to have contributed the best we can to the Fatherland. Even though we lost, we all worked hard until the last minute, even when we were short. Not every national team can do it. That’s something I’m very proud of.”

At the age of 30, this may be Hung Dung’s last Asian Cup participation as a player for the Vietnam national team. The midfielder on the payroll of Hanoi Club said he was happy to be with a young team. But do not forget to instruct the juniors to always strive forward to improve themselves and contribute to the team in the future.

“I am an older player. Maybe this is the last Asian Cup that I participate in. I’m so glad to be with you. Maybe in this tournament, many players are only considered young talents, but I want from the next round of training, no one will call you young players anymore. Because you have already experienced the 2026 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers. In the team, age has no boundary. There are no national team tournaments with age regulations. Don’t think you are young players. I hope that in the upcoming March training session, when the coach calls up, no one will be considered a young player. We only have players in top form, giving their best for the home team. There are no young or old players because everyone is a team.”

The captain of the Vietnam national team emphasized: “Everyone has tried and practiced for the past 8-9 months towards this tournament. There are things we can do and things we can’t do, but the spirit is truly great! No one is removed from the collective! This is a united bloc and hopefully we maintain that.

Maybe next time this player will be in focus, that player will not be called up, but what you have experienced is a beautiful memory. What’s important is that we have the opportunity to continue. One failure is not the problem. Tomorrow the sun will rise again and we will go out to practice again, fighting for what lies ahead. That is the most precious thing. For a player, being able to play football is the most wonderful thing. Every one of us, when we were children, aspired to play for the Vietnam national team. Now we have done that.”

“Now it’s time for us to look forward to March. There’s nothing better than if Vietnam repays its debt before Indonesia. I hope so! The recent failure is something no one wants. Let’s pin it down and remember why we lost. This March, we will be ready to face them again, in front of the cheers of 80,000 – 90,000 spectators. Let’s fight for what we have done, with a stronger spirit,” Hung Dung added.