Coach Kim Sang Sik: Vietnam team will do its utmost to beat Pakistan

At a press conference before the final group-stage match, Coach Kim Sang Sik said Vietnam's goal is clear: beat Pakistan and take three points. The statement came after Vietnam lost to Thailand and lost all chances of reaching the final. The upcoming match is described as part of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, with Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta as the venue and FPT Play as the broadcaster. However, these details are not fully sourced. The ASEAN championship has historically been run by the AFF, while Pakistan is a South Asian team and Jakarta is in Indonesia. The most concrete sporting issue is goalkeeper Patrik Lê Giang, who is struggling with an elbow injury. The coach says the final decision will be made after training. If the starting goalkeeper is unavailable, Vietnam's build-up play and defensive stability could suffer. There is also a psychological risk: a team eliminated from the final may become complacent against a weaker opponent. Coach Kim publicly apologized and urged everyone to forget the Thailand defeat. The match is less about the group standings and more about morale, leadership and reputation. The real question is not whether Vietnam can beat Pakistan, but whether the victory can erase the pain of the Thailand loss.