In this year’s Asian Cup, Vietnam is in Group D while South Korea is in Group E. If both teams were advanced, Vietnam and South Korea have a high chance of meeting in the round of 16.
His and his teammates are interested and have been following the progress of the Group D teams, including the clash between Vietnam and Indonesia in the second round last Friday. Vietnam did not get off to a good start in this match and conceded a penalty in the first half, before waking up and creating many chances in the second half but they failed to convert.
The 1-0 defeat, along with the 4-2 loss to Japan in the first round, eliminated Vietnam early, although they still have a match to play against Iraq.
After drawing 2-2 with Jordan at Al Thumama Stadium on Saturday, Son said: “I watched Vietnam play Indonesia. It’s a shame they didn’t get a good result. But I was very emotional when I saw the players try their luck. “It’s the best for their country. Good luck in Vietnam next time. “
The striker, who captains Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, thanked Vietnamese fans for their support as well as the South Korean national team.
His son, 31, is considered the best Asian footballer in history. In the Premier League, he won the Golden Boot in the 2021–22 season, becoming the first Asian player to do so.
This season he has scored 12 goals, just two behind Man City’s Norwegian striker Erling Haaland. For the national team, Son scored 43 goals, 16 behind legend Cha Bum-kun.
Son faced Vietnam several times. In the 2018 Asian Games semi-finals, he helped South Korea win 3-1 against Vietnam.
In mid-October 2023, he also played and scored when South Korea defeated Vietnam 6–0 in a friendly. After this match, many Vietnamese players came to shake Son’s hand and expressed their happiness at meeting a football star they usually only see on TV. Do Hung Dung, Que Ngoc Hai and some members of the technical staff even stood in front of the tunnel entrance to take photos with Son.
At the Asian Cup in Qatar this year, South Korea did not have a convincing tournament. After the 3-1 win against Bahrain, they struggled in the 2-2 draw against Jordan.
Son scored the first goal from the penalty spot, but Jordan came back and scored two goals. It was only thanks to an own goal in injury time that South Korea escaped defeat.
“Everyone thought the match would be easy. But in reality, there is no easy match in the Asian Cup,” Son said after the match.
“If you are not prepared, physically and mentally, the opponent will hurt you. This match is a lesson for us, so that we can move forward and be stronger.”
South Korea are second in Group E with four points ahead of Jordan, but behind on goal difference. In the final round this week, Son and his team will face Malaysia, already eliminated after two consecutive defeats.
South Korea has the fourth-best record in the Asian Cup with two titles, but the last time they won it was in 1960.
