AFF Cup 2022: Vietnam team is on the right track

Noteworthy inAFF Cup 2022In this match against the number 1 opponent in the group stage, Malaysia, although Van Toan received a red card in the 33rd minute, coach Park Hang-seo and his team still overcame the difficulties together by maintaining a solid defensive position, while counter-attacking excellently, forcing the opponent to commit a foul, receive a red card (with a heavy penalty afterwards), equalizing the score and raising the score to 2-0, then ending with a very convincing score of 3-0.

To see, in the group stages in the region, there is currently no real opponent that can force the Vietnamese team to face difficulties or accept an undesirable result, although teams like Myanmar, Indonesia or Singapore have played defensively to hold the team of the Korean coach to a draw. The only problem that is really tense, exciting and unpredictable is the knockout round of the semi-finals, even though there are 2 home/away matches.

Vietnam team convincingly defeated Myanmar. Photo courtesy of Hai Hoang

Looking at the two most recent AFF Cups, as well as throughout the history of the AFF Cup, the Vietnamese team has never easily achieved the desired results, even though they have passed the semi-finals twice, and even reached the finals in the previous AFF Cups of 2008 and 2018.

Of course, history is for reference, so we cannot lose hope when the Vietnam team goes to Indonesia to compete in the first leg of the semi-finals. History does not support the Vietnam team when facing each other in the AFF Cup (only draws and losses), but in other arenas, things are not so bad, especially under the hands of coach Park Hang-seo. Anyway, meeting Indonesia in the semi-finals, although difficult, the story will be more open than meeting rival Thailand, an opponent that always makes the red-shirt boys not really play as well as they should. The problem is that when passing the semi-finals, the fighting spirit of each player will be raised, everything will be 50/50 and then, the Vietnam team will have enough opportunities to make things happen like they did in the AFF Cup 2008 under Calistore with the best players Cong Vinh, Minh Phuong, Hong Son...

Due to the tight schedule and the need to travel back and forth, the coaches had to carefully calculate their squad from the beginning of the tournament. Up to now, after 4 group stage matches, the Vietnam team has deployed most of its players into the match, except for goalkeepers Nguyen Manh and Van Toan. Despite having to constantly change the number of players in the defense, except for Van Lam, the Vietnam team still did not concede a goal, and also participated in creating and scoring goals like Ngoc Hai, Van Hau and Tan Tai did. Coach Park Hang-seo has tested most of the central defenders, full-backs, midfielders and strikers at different times, both to test and to save energy for the long, fierce and arduous journey ahead.

The appearance of Van Hau on the left wing creates a stronger attack for the Vietnam Team. Photo courtesy of Hai Hoang

In the final match of the group stage against the out-of-chance opponent Myanmar, Mr. Park Hang-seo deployed a squad consisting of Hanoi FC players plusVan Lam, Tan Tai and Tien Linh. The early opening goal was scored by 4 Hanoi FC players including Hung Dung, Van Hau, Van Quyet and Tuan Hai (causing the opposing defender to score an own goal). But then the pillars were all rested so that Van Duc, Hoang Duc, Hong Duy, Van Thanh, Ngoc Quang... could enter the field one by one so as not to lose their competitive spirit and still ensure their physical strength for the upcoming matches. For various reasons, Ngoc Hai, Thanh Binh and Tien Dung were rested for the entire 4th match recently. Quang Hai, Tien Linh... also only played one half and were rested early. They will certainly be on the field from the start in the upcoming first leg of the semi-final in Indonesia.

Although the Indonesian opponent is missing the number 1 goalkeeper Argawinata, his compatriot Shin Tae-yong will certainly "welcome" Park Hang-seo fiercely, without any courtesy. Playing tough, uncompromising, disrupting the opponent's playing style, attacking the flanks and the middle, combined with pressure from the stands, and even the referee's leniency will make things go out of hand if Mr. Park Hang-seo is not well prepared mentally, physically, and with perfect countermeasures.

Mr. Park Hang-seo has never lost to his famous compatriot and it is very possible that things will not end in the first leg. Therefore, as long as the game is maintained, a draw with a score for example, the Vietnamese team can rest assured waiting for the opponent to come to My Dinh Stadium. Of course, an away win like the time Cong Vinh and Quang Hai did in Thailand in 2008, the story will be more exciting, explosive and worth mentioning. Someone said that in this AFF Cup 2022, the Vietnamese team is still on the right track, is dominating the game, that is why./.