ASIAN Cup and the stepping stone for the World Cup dream of the Vietnam Team

If the Asian Cup is considered a stepping stone or launching pad for successive tournaments in 2024, then clearly, this is a huge challenge for the entire Vietnam National Team, including Coach Troussier personally.

Remember, in 2019, the Vietnamese team under the leadership of coach Park Hang-seo made a huge splash in the continental arena, confidently entering the quarterfinals and having memorable matches against Jordan or Japan, regardless of the outcome.

Returning to the Asian playground after more than 4 years, the current Vietnam National Team has almost completely changed its appearance, from a new coach, a completely different tactical philosophy and especially fresh, young people have been brought into the team and Mr. Troussier is ready to give them a starting position, pushing the veterans aside.

If we look at the list of the Vietnamese National Team before the 2023 Asian Cup after a series of changes in the squad due to consecutive injuries, in theory, only 7 players who were in the squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Asian Cup will have the opportunity to go to Qatar this time.

However, not all of them are sure to be in the official squad. Coach Troussier has his own views on choosing and using people and does not let himself be influenced by conflicting public opinions. In some ways, he has succeeded in nurturing the abilities of young talents such as Thai Son, Minh Trong or Dinh Bac... and the two matches against the Philippines and Iraq in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers last November were proof.

But after all, those are just the first positive signs because there is still a very long way to go for the new, youthful squad of the Vietnam National Team under Coach Troussier. Vietnamese fans always have high expectations of the Vietnam National Team in terms of both performance and results, while Coach Troussier's new approach needs time to mature.

When the team's playing style is not working well and the performance is not meticulous, it is difficult to demand results. If the priority is to return to the old philosophy like the time of Mr. Park Hang-seo, then Coach Troussier absolutely will not do it.

The players of the Vietnam National Team will more or less look at the achievement of the quarter-finals of the 2019 Asian Cup to strive together, but learning and promoting if possible is only a mental factor. In terms of expertise, Coach Troussier always wants his students to control the ball, impose and actively attack even when facing strong opponents.

If Indonesia can still be considered to have a similar level to the Vietnam Team, Iraq and especially the Japan Team have superior levels. Whether controlling the ball or even actively defending, the Vietnam Team will find it difficult to win 3 points as many people expected.

The way the Japanese team defeated Thailand 5-0 in a friendly match 1 day ago only proved one thing, the team from the land of the rising sun is still as strong as usual and they are extremely cautious, respecting all opponents even in a friendly match.

The match against Japan will not be easy for Coach Troussier and the Vietnam National Team in the 2023 Asian Cup, a stepping stone for a journey to bring the World Cup dream closer to reality.