Fans support Quang Hải before the ASEAN Cup semifinal

Many fans have spoken up to defend midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải ahead of the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinal between the national team of Malaysia and the national team of Vietnam.

Right after the match against the Cambodian team, despite Vietnam's 3-1 victory, midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải suddenly became the focal point of criticism. However, ahead of the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinal, the 1997-born player still received support and sympathy from many fans.

"If the audience follows the V-League more, they would understand why Quang Hải is still in the national team at this moment. A position in the national team is established through club performance, and even though Quang Hải's form has declined compared to his past self, his statistics and playing time are still top at CAHN.

Quang Hải's position has not had much rest and he has always been a leader in both spirit and expertise at CAHN. Hải has 3 goals, 10 assists, and was the MVP of the V-League. This shows that Hải is still maintaining stability and showcasing his abilities. There is no reason not to call up Quang Hải to the national team."

"If one says Quang Hải lacks desire, just look back at the image of Quang Hải angrily smashing a water bottle when he was left out of the squad for the match against Indonesia at Mỹ Đình Stadium under Coach Troussier. Looking at his current position, it can also be seen that Quang Hải is playing deeper, farther from the goal," Facebook user Longform shared his opinion.

"I see Quang Hải as a great player who always knows how to overcome difficulties and respond to criticism with on-field performance. This is not the first time, and I believe Quang Hải will get through it and shine when the team needs him," Facebook user Cường Nguyễn spoke up to defend Quang Hải.

"Quang Hải's achievements and class have been proven over many years. Just because he's been underperforming and not meeting expectations for a few matches, people act as if he's lost all his talent. I really feel the pressure for Quang Hải. Try to get through this difficult period, Quang Hải," Facebook user Nguyễn Thị Quỳnh sent words of encouragement to Quang Hải.

"I think it's normal for Quang Hải to have a bad match. The criticism aimed at Quang Hải, after all, comes from fans who have overly high expectations and want him to always play explosively like before. For me, Quang Hải is still the same class.

But over time, Quang Hải has taken on different roles, playing deeper and more quietly. Currently, Hoàng Đức and Đình Bắc are very popular. But when they turn 30, they will also have a period of stagnation. So in the end, if you love a player, you love them both when they are in good form and when they are not," Facebook user Stevie Nguyen shared.

"I don't know if people have noticed, but Quang Hải has been playing farther from the goal and has taken on more of a playmaking and assisting role in recent years. His playing deeper has made people not see him scoring as much as before.

It must be said that Quang Hải now is more like a midfield distributor, organizing the play more. Looking at the match against Cambodia, the Vietnamese team had many chances to score. Quang Hải also created many good passes for his teammates. Scoring or not also depends on luck," Facebook user Hoài Vũ shared his opinion.

According to the plan, on the afternoon of August 13, the Vietnamese national team will depart for Malaysia to prepare for the first leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 semifinal. Coach Kim Sang Sik and his players have about 2 days to acclimate to the climate and weather in Malaysia before the first leg. Whether Quang Hải will continue to play in this match is also a big question mark for experts.