After the defeat to the US women’s team with an acceptable score in the group stage of the 2023 World Cup finals, a pleasant atmosphere spread throughout the Vietnamese women’s team. When on the car back to the hotel, at lunch and dinner, teachers and students talked about hot situations of the match. Those are fun stories.
Coach Mai Duc Chung pondered during the training session on July 23
Before yesterday morning’s training session, it was still the topic of the match against the US team, but coach Mai Duc Chung went deeper in expertise. He did not say anything heavy, but only thoroughly analyzed the advantages and disadvantages of the students. He praised them for playing bravely, without fear, without losing their temper and that made him very proud. But he also suggested that the students need to draw their own lessons so that in the next match, against Portugal, they will play better.
Coach Mai Duc Chung in the match against the US team on July 22
The conversation lasted for more than 10 minutes but did not make things tense. The players then entered the light training session with a relaxed mind. There are no serious health problems for the players. Thanh Nha has recovered from her illness and can play in the match against Portugal on July 27. Some cases of muscle strain have also been supported by doctors to recover (the team has added 1 more doctor from Vietnam a few days ago). Everything is going smoothly. But the old general Mai Duc Chung did not smile during the training session. “As for me, when the work is not done, I often lose sleep, smile less. Can’t laugh right now. I have to wait for the three group stage matches,” coach Mai Duc Chung “presented” gently when a reporter asked him to smile in front of the camera.
His students played bravely
In the afternoon of the same day, the whole team watched the Portugal women’s match against the Netherlands. Watch very attentively and comment non-stop. A player shared that the Portuguese team lost very close and had a pretty good game because the opponent was not too superior to him. However, the Portuguese team was not lucky. Therefore, in the match against the Vietnamese women’s team, they will definitely try their best to defeat the opponent. “Are you afraid?”, when asked cheerfully, a female player immediately replied: “There is nothing to be afraid of, fight to the end. Our team tries to score in this match. Uncle Chung also told you to try, this is a match where Vietnam can make a surprise”.
As planned, teachers and coaches Mai Duc Chung will practice in Auckland until July 25 and move to Hamilton City on July 26. The match against Portugal will be played at this city’s Waikato stadium (the stadium has a capacity of 25,000 spectators).