Before the semifinal match, the U22 Vietnam goalkeeper is determined not to concede any goals.

Ahead of the SEA Games 33 men's football semifinal, goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien affirmed his determination to maintain high concentration, considering guarding the goal as the top priority to help U22 Vietnam aim for the best possible result.

The U22 Vietnam team keeps training on the field, hastening to complete the final preparations for the men's football semifinal at SEA Games 33 against U22 Philippines.

Coach Kim Sang-sik devoted most of the time to tactical content, particularly emphasizing coordination between lines, off-the-ball movement, and transition in both attack and defense. These are considered key factors as U22 Vietnam enters the knockout stage, where even the smallest mistake can affect the overall outcome.

Before the training session, goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien shared with the media about the team's spirit and his personal goals. He said that after the victory against U22 Malaysia, the players quickly returned to training routines, closely following the coaching staff’s plan to prepare for the match against U22 Philippines.

According to Trung Kien, the win with a dominant playing style over Malaysia gave a huge boost in morale and motivated the whole team to remain confident and perform well in the semifinal. He also mentioned that the coaching staff always holds meetings after each match to analyze strengths and weaknesses, allowing timely adjustments during training.

Regarding U22 Philippines, Tran Trung Kien expressed respect for the opponent. Although U22 Vietnam previously defeated U22 Philippines in the Southeast Asian U23 Championship semifinals, Trung Kien believes there should be no complacency: “I don’t think there is much difference. Philippines remain a strong opponent. They beat Indonesia in the group stage, and the whole team is well aware of that.”

Concerning minimizing conceded goals, especially from set pieces, Trung Kien said the coaching staff carefully analyzed poor plays for the team to learn from. Sharing his personal goal at SEA Games 33, Tran Trung Kien affirmed he always aims to keep a clean sheet, thereby contributing to the team’s overall success. He also emphasized the healthy competition within the squad: “In any environment, there is competition. Whether it’s me or someone else playing, whenever given the chance, we focus and give our best effort.”