HLV Nguyễn Trọng Giang: 'The final matchday is the chessboard of the giants'

The third round of the 2026 World Cup group stage will officially unveil the teams entering the knockout stage. It is also the moment when big teams plan strategically for the long haul, whereas other squads are forced to give their everything in life-or-death objectives.

Assessing the group featuring Switzerland and Canada, Mr. Nguyễn Trọng Giang, assistant coach of Hong Linh Ha Tinh Club, analyzed: "In the match between Switzerland and Canada, both teams are almost guaranteed to advance with 4 points in hand. A draw in this round is enough for the two sides to walk into the knockout stage together, regardless of the result in the other match. This is an ideal opportunity for both head coaches to rotate their squads and rest key players before the thrilling race in the elimination rounds.

However, if I had to predict which team is more eager to win and claim the top spot in the group, I would favor Switzerland. They have superior squad depth, professional quality, and the ability of their stars to create breakthroughs. In contrast, Canada is likely to play it safe to consolidate their position."

The situation in Group C is truly a "strategic chessboard" full of calculations, as both Brazil and Morocco have 4 points: "The most important thing for Brazil and Morocco now is choosing their opponents in the next round. According to the tournament bracket, the group winners and runners-up of Group C will face the advancing teams from Group F, which features three powerhouses: Japan, the Netherlands, and Sweden. Therefore, finishing first or second in Group C will directly determine which opponent they face.

For Brazil, after a resounding victory over Haiti, the 'Selecao' morale is very high. I believe they will still aim for a win against Scotland to maintain their momentum and affirm their position as a championship candidate, rather than calculating to avoid opponents."

In another development, East Asian representative South Korea faces a major challenge in their final match against South Africa: "In Group A, host Mexico has already secured advancement as group leaders. Therefore, it is perfectly understandable that they will use a reserve lineup in their upcoming match against the Czech Republic to rest key players.

This match is likely to end in a draw, as the Czech Republic desperately needs points but lacks the personnel to decide the game.

Consequently, the pressure falls squarely on South Korea in their simultaneous match against South Africa. The Asian representative only needs one point to guarantee advancement as the group runner-up. South Korea is likely to start slowly, playing a cautious counter-attacking style to conserve energy. However, they must not be complacent. If they slip up against South Africa while the Czech Republic pulls off a surprise against Mexico, it would be a real disaster for Korean football."