Viet Nam will face South Korea in the semi-finals of the men’s football at the Asian Games (ASIAD) 2018 at 4.00pm today, 29 August. The match is predicted to be very touch for the national team because their contenders are very strong.

Vietnamese players and fans sharing their joys after a 1-0 win over Syria on 27 August

South Korea have progressed into semi-finals of the men’s football at ASIAD for 10 times, with being crowned champions for 4 times, runners-up for 3 times and bronze medal winners for 3 times.

Therefore, the Korean football team are targeting to successfully defend their championship title at this year’s sporting event.

The Korean football team is being coached by Kim Hak-bum who understands Korean footballers well and knows how to motivate his players. He is well-known for teaching players to control the ball well at different speeds, and to make varied attacks to put pressure on their rivals.

In addition, the team are expected to field their key stars in today’s match. Included are striker Lee Seung-woo who plays for the Italian Hellas Verona Club, striker Hwang Hee-chan from the Austrian Red Bull Salzburg Club, striker Hwang Ui-jo from the Japanese Gamba Osaka Club, and staring goalkeeper Jo Hyeon-woo at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Most notably, the star of the Korean football team is Son Heung-min who has elevated himself to the top of world football with a combination of speed, technical ability, creativity, and flair.

Son is a regular for Tottenham Hotspur, a club that has finished third, second, and third in its past three English Premier League seasons. He has scored spectacular goals in the Champions League and the World Cup. He is a three-time Asian Footballer of the Year and a two-time Premier League Player of the Month.

Son has been given leave from his Premier League club to play for South Korea as one of the three older players allowed on the U-23 national team in the ASIAD. He was doing this to earn an exemption from the compulsory 2-year military service so that his spectacular career isnot cut short in its prime. He is determining to win this tournament so that he can achieve what he needs to earn that exemption.

In addition, Mr Kim is doing his utmost to make effective and rapid counter-attack tactics to help his team win this tournament. Failure to win a gold medal in Indonesia will likely mean that the Korean coach willnot be allowed to coach the Korean football team at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

As for Viet Nam, Korean coach Park Hang-seo, a member of Guus Hiddink's coaching staff at the 2002 World Cup when South Korea reached the semifinals, is coaching Viet Nam.

"I'm trying to pass on my knowledge and football philosophy to this team," Park said of his strategy with Viet Nam.

The winner will progress to the Asian Games final to face either Japan or the United Arab Emirates on 1 September.