Goalkeeper Filip receives family's kisses after debut game with Vietnam at Asian Cup

By Minh Khang   January 15, 2024 | 05:53 am PT
Czech Vietnamese goalkeeper Nguyen Filip walked over the stand in Doha Sunday to join his mother, wife and son after his first game with Vietnam, against Japan at Asian Cup.
Goalkeeper Filip receives family's kisses after debut game with Vietnam at Asian Cup

Filip receives a kiss on the cheek from his mother Eva Vodickova in Al Thumama Stadium.

His family flew to Qatar to accompany him in his first tournament with Vietnam's national team.

Filip gained Vietnamese citizenship last month and became a top choice for Vietnam's keeper position after Dang Van Lam could not play due to injury.

Goalkeeper Filip receives family's kisses after debut game with Vietnam at Asian Cup

Eva Vodickova now lives in the Czech Republic. Filip said his parents divorced when he was 6 and he lived with his mother.

"My mother is the most important person in my football's career. She's always supported me and would do anything for me. She always trusts my decisions and ambitions," Filip said after the match.

"My mother was very happy that I got to play for Vietnam, and she wanted to be on the stand for my first game."

This was Eva Vodickova's rare public appearance with Filip at a stadium. He has never shared his mother's images on his personal pages.

Goalkeeper Filip receives family's kisses after debut game with Vietnam at Asian Cup

Filip Nguyen kisses his wife Aneta Nguyen, who has a Vietnamese father and a Czech mother.

Goalkeeper Filip receives family's kisses after debut game with Vietnam at Asian Cup

Filip kisses his three-year-old son.

Goalkeeper Filip receives family's kisses after debut game with Vietnam at Asian Cup

Filip, 31, said coming to Vietnam to play football was the best choice for his family, as he wants his son to be more connected with his father's homeland.

Goalkeeper Filip receives family's kisses after debut game with Vietnam at Asian Cup

Filip in Vietnam's 2-4 defeat against Japan. He made at least four important saves during the game and was praised by coach Philippe Troussier.

Goalkeeper Filip receives family's kisses after debut game with Vietnam at Asian Cup

Filip said he has many regrets, especially when Vietnam conceded the third goal.

In the third minute of injury time in the first half, when the score was 2-2, Filip made a long goal kick to the other side but his teammate lost the ball and let Japan start an attack. Kaito Nakamura got the ball at the edge of the box and his shot curled into the top corner.

Filip said: "I should have kept the ball longer to give my teammates a little more time to rest. I may have been too hasty. Without this play, the first half could have ended in a draw and Japan would have been under more pressure in the second half."

Photos by Lam Thoa

 
 
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