Argentina coach speaks candidly after Vietnam's 2-3 loss to Indonesia in the semifinal

After the 2-3 loss to Indonesia in the semifinal of the 2026 Southeast Asian Futsal Championship, Vietnam's national futsal team head coach, Diego Giustozzi, offered candid reflections during the press briefing.

Regarding the match, the Argentine strategist stated that Vietnam's team did not start well, particularly in the opening minutes. “I think we started the match poorly. We played well, but the first 5-10 minutes were very bad. After that, I believe we did not deserve to lose, but when we are not performing at 100%, we are not good enough. That is what happened.”

“When they took the lead, it became very difficult because they played fiercely, strongly, and with good tactics, making it hard to turn the situation around,” Coach Diego Giustozziadded.

The head coach of Vietnam's futsal team also revealed that the squad is undergoing a rebuilding process with a majority of young players. “We are changing the team, giving more opportunities to players. About 60-70% of the squad are new players, young players. This is a process to achieve our goals. We need to give them time, give them chances, play more matches to accumulate experience. We need 20-25 matches, or maybe 50 matches, to build the spirit and experience at this level.”

Additionally, losses in personnel due to injuries significantly affected the team's strength. “We have 2-3 key players injured. Some had to be out for 9-10 months and only returned in this tournament. As for the goalkeeper, we lost experienced and quality players during a crucial period.”

Given that reality, Giustozzi believes the players need to show greater responsibility. “Therefore, this is the time when star players need to be more responsible, play more. I am satisfied with my players, but when we are not at 100%, every match is very difficult.”

Regarding Indonesia, Giustozzi praised the opponent extensively. “Indonesia has had a lot of time to train together, so this match was a very tactical one. They have a good present and a bright future. The players have quality and good physical condition. With good tactics, they are a very tough team to play against.”

At the same time, he affirmed Vietnam futsal still has much work to do to catch up with that progress. “I think we always had chances in this match, but we must improve because Indonesia is doing very well.”

Closing the press conference, Giustozzi reaffirmed his belief in the team's current development direction. “We decided on this path from the beginning and we still believe it is the best decision. I trust this team. Today was a bad day, but we must continue on this path.”

On April 12, the Vietnam futsal team will enter the bronze medal match against the Australian team.