Argentina's head coach affirms 'working for the future of Vietnamese football'

The Vietnam futsal squad entered their initial week of practice, beginning their journey to get ready for the 2026 Asian Futsal qualifying round.

Head coach Diego Raul Giustozzi continues to rely on key players such as goalkeeper Pham Van Tu, Fixo Pham Duc Hoa, Nguyen Manh Dung, Ala Chau Doan Phat, Tu Minh Quang, as well as familiar Pivos like Nguyen Minh Tri and Nguyen Thinh Phat.

At the same time, standout young talents from the domestic league, including Tran Quang Nguyen, Trinh Cong Dai, Vu Ngoc Anh, and Nguyen Da Hai, have also been called up, reflecting the long-term strategy to build a successor generation.

Speaking to the media after the morning session on August 19, coach Giustozzi emphasized: “The core of the team needs consistency to maintain our style and tactics. However, I still give young players opportunities during training and friendlies. That’s how we prepare for the future.”

The Argentine coach admitted that the absence of key players like Ho Van Y and Thai Huy has somewhat affected the plans. Nevertheless, the coaching staff still trusts the current squad, including goalkeeper Van Tu, Khanh Cuong, and especially Quoc Giau, a 16-year-old who has been given a chance to join the team. “I work for both the present and the future of Vietnamese futsal,” he stressed.

The team has three weeks to prepare before the qualifiers begin. From September 9 to 14, coach Giustozzi and his players will travel to Kuwait for training camp and play two international friendlies against the hosts on September 11 and 13. This is considered a vital step for the players to regain their match fitness before facing Hong Kong (China), China, and Lebanon in Group E of the 2026 AFC Futsal qualifiers.

The return of key players like Nguyen Minh Tri and Ngoc Linh is seen as a crucial boost. However, the coaching staff will closely monitor their condition to ensure they reach peak performance before competing.

From the player’s perspective, Fixo Pham Duc Hoa admitted he is not yet at 100% after his injury but is working hard to get back in rhythm. Duc Hoa shared: “This time, the squad is quite strong, with many young players showing their abilities in the domestic league. I believe the chances are equal—whoever performs well will be selected.”

Assessing the opponents, Duc Hoa said this year’s group is more challenging. Lebanon remains unpredictable, while China is making clear progress. However, Vietnam futsal’s goal is unchanged: to strive for first place in the group and assert our position on the continental stage.