Hot football news afternoon 5/7: Indonesian media warns against Vietnam national team

The Vietnam national team enters fierce competition ahead of the ASEAN Championship 2026, while the World Cup 2026 heats up with thrilling clashes, and Arsenal prepares to part ways with Leandro Trossard.

Fierce competition within the Vietnam national team

The training camp in South Korea is becoming a crucial milestone in the youth rejuvenation process of the Vietnam national team under coach Kim Sang-sik. Before the final squad is cut from 27 to 23 players for the ASEAN Championship 2026, many U23 faces such as Tran Trung Kien, Nguyen Nhat Minh, Khua Van Khang, Nguyen Ngoc My, and Nguyen Dinh Bac, are ready to compete fairly with their seniors. The upcoming three friendlies will be the last chance for the players to impress, and could create a major turning point in the team's framework. Coach Kim Sang-sik's message is also very clear: There will no longer be any guaranteed starting spots, every position must be determined by form and on-field performance.

Indonesian media: "Need to be wary of the Vietnam national team"

According to the assessment of Bola and expert Ronny Pangemanan (Ropan), the Vietnam national team is preparing very seriously for the ASEAN Championship 2026 to defend their title, especially ahead of the highly anticipated tense clash with Indonesia in the group stage. The fact that coach Kim Sang-sik's team traveled to South Korea for early training, along with the plan to use naturalized players such as Xuan Son, Nguyen Tai Loc, and Hoang Hen, is seen as evidence of the determination of the Golden Star warriors.

Ropan stated that Vietnam does not want to be overshadowed by Indonesia and has closely monitored the opponent's performance during the FIFA Days, while also believing that the match between the two teams will be the most notable highlight of Group A.

World Cup 2026 Highlights

The morning matches on July 5 sent France and Morocco into the World Cup 2026 quarterfinals, but how the two teams secured their spots is what stands out. France faced serious difficulties for the first time, only overcoming Paraguay thanks to a penalty from Kylian Mbappe, thereby exposing weaknesses against a fierce and physical defensive style.

Meanwhile, Morocco continued to affirm its status as a genuine contender with a 3-0 victory over Canada, demonstrating impressive efficiency and composure. The African representative also became the first team from the continent to reach the quarterfinals in two consecutive World Cups. The clash between France and Morocco is therefore expected to be one of the most thrilling encounters of the tournament so far.

The Azteca Fortress

Although considered stronger than Mexico in the round of 16 of the World Cup 2026, the England team still faces a huge challenge having to play at the Azteca stadium. Coach Thomas Tuchel admitted fortress of Mexican football is the most formidable obstacle, not only due to the pressure from over 87,000 spectators but also because of the playing conditions at an altitude of about 2,200 meters, making it difficult for players to adapt in a short time. Azteca is also where Mexico has won all four matches and conceded no goals at the World Cup 2026. With home advantage and a passionate atmosphere, the host team is expected to pose the biggest challenge for the Three Lions since the start of the tournament.

Arsenal clears out the squad

Arsenal is close to parting ways with Leandro Trossard after reaching a preliminary agreement with Besiktas worth approximately 17.1 million Pounds, including 15.4 million Pounds transfer fee and 1.7 million Pounds add-ons. However, the deal is still awaiting Trossard to agree on personal terms with the Turkish club.

Joining Arsenal in 2023, the Belgian international scored 36 goals and provided 34 assists after 174 matches, contributing greatly to the Premier League title last season. However, at the age of 31, he is no longer in the long-term plans of coach Mikel Arteta. After giving the green light for Trossard to leave, Arsenal is reportedly planning a replacement with two notable targets: Morgan Rogers and Bradley Barcola.