Global sports outlets have been speculating about the result of the highly anticipated friendly match between Vietnam and Russia, scheduled for 8:00 p.m. on September 5 at My Dinh Stadium.
This evening, Vietnam will face a formidable challenge as they go head-to-head with Russia. In the latest FIFA rankings, Vietnam sits at 115th, while Russia holds a far superior position at 33rd.
Despite the uphill battle ahead, Vietnamese fans remain hopeful, believing that coach Kim Sang Sik and his team can defy expectations and deliver a remarkable performance.
International sports publications, however, are largely predicting a win for Russia. Indian outlet Sportskeeda noted, “The Vietnamese team is currently ranked 115th globally and has struggled throughout 2024, losing seven of their last eight matches. Their lone victory came with a 3-2 win over the Philippines in the World Cup qualifiers.”
With the V-League set to begin and the 2024 AFF Cup approaching, Vietnam aims to build momentum through victories on home soil. Coach Kim Sang Sik has called up 26 players to prepare for back-to-back matches against Russia and Thailand. Notably, striker Tien Linh, who has scored 20 goals in 46 appearances for Vietnam, remains sidelined for official matches since 2022. Recently, Russia demonstrated their strength in friendly matches with commanding 4-0 victories over both Serbia and Belarus. Earlier, they also thrashed Cuba 8-0.
This will be the first official encounter between the two sides. However, given Russia’s higher caliber, many predict Vietnam will face difficulties in ending their losing streak.
Sportskeeda has forecasted a 3-0 win for Russia, stating, “The Russian team is clearly superior, and Vietnam may struggle to recover from their recent poor form.”
Football Predictions also suggested a comfortable win for Russia, predicting a 2-0 victory. The outlet commented, “Russia should easily secure a clean sheet, as Vietnam continues to face challenges in their attacking play.”
Meanwhile, Indonesian site Nobartv expressed doubts about Vietnam’s ability to compete against a European powerhouse like Russia, forecasting a 2-1 defeat for Vietnam. They expect coach Kim Sang Sik to deploy a 4-4-2 formation, featuring Tien Linh and Phan Van Duc as the attacking duo.
Another Indonesian publication, Bola, echoed this sentiment, pointing out that Vietnam is still in the process of regaining stability under coach Kim Sang Sik. In contrast, Russia boasts a cohesive squad, with most players competing domestically. Remarkably, Russia has kept a clean sheet in four of their last five matches.
Bola predicted a 3-1 victory for Russia.
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Source: Vietnam Insider