Indonesia coach predicts defeat of Vietnam in the AFF Cup semifinals

“Don’t talk about the past,” Shin said at the press conference on Thursday. “At the moment, I have a new team with new players that are well-prepared. This time will be different. The past is just the past.”

Coach Shin managed South Korea’s team at the 2018 World Cup, where the team failed to make it past the group stage but shocked the world with a 2-0 victory over Germany. However, with Indonesia, he has yet to recreate the same success. Since Shin became Indonesia’s head coach, he has not been able to win against compatriot Park Hang-seo, coach of Vietnam’s national team. In addition to a 0-0 draw in the group stage of the 2020 AFF Cup, Indonesia lost 0-4 in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers and 0-3 at SEA Games 31.

In the AFF Cup, the team have reached the finals six times but have not won a title. Indonesia hope to end this disappointing record at this year’s tournament.

Vietnam are so far unbeaten in the group stage, scoring 12 goals and conceding none. During the past five years, in all competitions, Indonesia have never beaten Vietnam, losing six matches and playing to a draw in one contest.

“Indonesia played well in the group stage and we will keep that form,” Shin added. “We get to play the first leg at home and we are confident we will perform well to defeat Vietnam.”

Shin also argued that the opponents of Vietnam in the group stage were weak teams and that’s why the Vietnamese have not allowed a single goal so far. But he promised that will change when they play Indonesia.

“Vietnam are strong, well-organized and solid in defense,” he said. “But they are not the only strong team in the semifinals; the other three teams, Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia, are also good.”

The first leg between Indonesia and Vietnam will kick off at 4:30 p.m. (Hanoi time) on Friday. The match will be broadcast live on VnExpress International.