Hot football news afternoon 4/7: Indonesia wary of coach Kim Sang-sik's team

Hai Long is confident ahead of ASEAN Championship 2026, Indonesia highly rates the Vietnam National Team, while Cape Verde receives a large reward from FIFA, the England team faces pressure from Mexican fans, and the European transfer market remains active.

Hai Long confident ahead of ASEAN Championship

Midfielder Nguyen Hai Long shared that the Vietnamese national team is in very good spirits after their first training session in Incheon (South Korea), where coach Kim Sang-sik's squad is preparing for the 2026 ASEAN Championship. Hai Long noted that this year's training conditions are very favorable and hopes the training trip will help the team replicate the success they had before the 2024 ASEAN Championship. He also considers the three friendly matches against Siheung FC, Yongin FC, and Gangwon FC as important opportunities for the coaching staff to evaluate the squad. Facing competition from naturalized and overseas Vietnamese players, the midfielder born in 2000 affirmed that the entire team does not feel pressured but sees this as motivation to work together towards the goal of defending the Southeast Asian championship.

Indonesia is especially wary of the Vietnam National Team

Indonesian media rates the Vietnamese national team as the most formidable opponent for Tim Garuda at the 2026 ASEAN Championship. Mr. Sumardji, Chairman of the National Team Agency (BTN) under PSSI, stated that Vietnam not only possesses good technical skills but also knows how to create psychological pressure, causing Indonesia to lose their composure many times in past tournaments. According to him, Indonesia often loses mentally whenever facing the Golden Star Warriors, so the coaching staff will pay special attention to preparing the players mentally. Indonesia will host Vietnam at Pakansari Stadium on August 3rd, in a match predicted to be crucial in the race for a spot in the next round.

Cape Verde receives a large reward from FIFA

Although they were eliminated after a 2-3 loss to Argentina in the Round of 32 of the 2026 World Cup, Cape Verde still concluded their historic tournament with many proud achievements. According to some media sources, the African representative could receive a total of approximately 24.5 million USD in prize money from FIFA, including amounts for the group stage and the knockout round. This is seen as a crucial financial source, creating motivation for Cape Verde to invest in youth training, infrastructure, and domestic football development. In their first World Cup appearance, the Blue Sharks not only impressed with their courageous play but also became one of the most inspiring stories of the tournament.

England team "tortured" by Mexican fans

Ahead of their Round of 16 match against Mexico at the 2026 World Cup, the England team faced immense pressure from the home fans as hundreds gathered outside their hotel in Mexico City, shouting, whistling, and cheering loudly. Harry Kane, Jude Bellingham, and their teammates became the focus of a mental torment, forcing security forces to erect barriers and implement multiple layers of protection.

According to British media, the English Football Association tried to keep their base location a secret, but the plan failed due to a leak. Despite this, coach Thomas Tuchel remained calm under the tense atmosphere, while the Three Lions aim to beat Mexico to secure a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2026 World Cup.

European transfer news hot

Arsenal continues to pursue defender Ezri Konsa following a direct request from coach Mikel Arteta, but is not yet ready to meet the asking price of £60 million demanded by Aston Villa. Meanwhile, Fenerbahce is closing in on signing Nathan Ake from Manchester City for a fee of around £7 million, while Granit Xhaka is reported to have rejected interest from Chelsea to remain with Sunderland.

In other news, Manchester United has confirmed that goalkeeper Andre Onana will continue to play for Trabzonspor on loan for the 2026/27 season, indicating that the Cameroonian goalkeeper still has no place in coach Michael Carrick's plans.

Notable football developments

The Thai national team is facing difficulties in its preparation for the 2026 ASEAN Championship, as it cannot finalize its squad due to many clubs refusing to release players. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese team has begun its training camp in South Korea with three important friendlies to perfect the squad.

In the 2026 World Cup, despite being eliminated by Argentina after extra time, Cape Verde still received a shower of praise from international media, while Lionel Messi admitted that his team still has many weaknesses to address before the round of 16. Meanwhile, Manchester United confirmed that Andre Onana will continue to join Trabzonspor on loan for the 2026/27 season, closing the not-so-bright future of the Cameroonian goalkeeper at Old Trafford.