Commentator Quang Tung comments on U23 Vietnam at the 2020 AFC U23 Championship

PV:Hello commentator Quang Tung, how do you evaluate the current strength of U23 Vietnam and the generation of players who made a splash at the 2018 U23 Asian Cup?

Commentator Quang Tung:After a successful generation of players like the 2018 AFC U23 Championship and the following generation of players, everyone will have a general feeling of being unequal. However, I think that is not too important. It is a matter of generation and the nature of the team needs to be challenged to have a specific assessment. All speculations are only relative. There must be practice to have an accurate assessment and comparison.

The Vietnam U23 team is ready to enter the AFC U23 Championship. Photo: Hai Hoang

I also think that the current generation of U23 Vietnam players also has certain good points. The fact is that we still have the inheritance, the core force, the vertical axis, still more than half of the main squad of the previous generation and have been together for the past 2 years.

There will probably be 3-4 new positions. There may be some concerns about the full-back position, the attacking ability on the wing is not as strong, steady or experienced as the previous generation. However, in general, the playing style of U23 Vietnam will be compatible with the existing factors.

In short, I think the current players of U23 Vietnam still have remarkable features. This squad still has generally suitable preparation and its goals are also clear. Compared to the previous generation, there is no fullness, maturity or special elements, but they have been together for a relatively long time.

PV:Which players do you expect to be the potential or breakthrough factors in this tournament? This is a common phenomenon in the Vietnamese team under coach Park Hang-seo.

Commentator Quang Tung:We have relatively good preparation and Coach Park Hang-seo will solve the difficulties with tactical factors to promote his people. Mr. Park's way of using people is also trustworthy enough for us to wait for one or two new phenomena.

Commentator Quang Tung still highly appreciates the current generation of U23 Vietnam. Photo: Hai Hoang

In the 2 years that he worked with Vietnamese football, there were always new factors in a big campaign. For example, Phan Van Duc at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, Trong Hoang at the 2018 AFF Cup, and in 2019, Hung Dung's role and influence were greater. Not to mention Tien Linh and Duc Chinh's visible progress, or Hoang Duc's case at the SEA Games, which was also a discovery.

It is very possible that at the 2020 AFC U23 Championship, there will be a few new players. If they can maintain their physical strength, maybe Trong Hung will become a new Phan Van Duc. Or the improvement of Tien Linh - Duc Chinh at a higher level. Everything is still in the process of accumulation, very well. There is nothing to worry about. Of course, youth football will have surprises and errors. Today is right, tomorrow is wrong, there is nothing strange.

PV:Many opinions say that the goalkeeper position will be something that Coach Park Hang-seo will have to consider. Goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung is clearly showing signs of decline. Goalkeeper Van Toan is still very young and international experience is a problem.

Commentator Quang Tung:I think that is not a big problem. Before 2018, no one knew who goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung was. Goalkeeper Van Toan has played in V.League, played well at SEA Games 30. His physique and stature, technique and experience are of course things that always need to be improved.

However, I think Van Toan's playing style and range of activities are completely trustworthy. After all, the defensive element is reinforced by an entire system. It is not just the defenders, nor the goalkeepers.

Goalkeeper Van Toan has a bright chance of starting at the AFC U23 Championship. Photo: Hai Hoang

If difficult situations continue to appear, at some point the goalkeeper will concede a goal. After all, between Van Toan and Tien Dung, I have more faith in Van Toan. The problem with Tien Dung is that he needs to regain his form when he returns to the V.League to be able to return to the national team.

PV:Unlike the 2018 group stage, at the AFC U23 Championship this time, we will face U23 UAE, Jordan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. What do you think about the chances of Coach Park and his team?

Commentator Quang Tung:In my opinion, the opponents in our group are not too terrible. The group with the presence of UAE, Jordan and North Korea is ultimately the easiest of the 4 groups. We have a chance, even more. It is difficult to look far, but if U23 Vietnam passes the group stage, it is also reasonable and within reach.

U23 Vietnam match schedule. Photo: Zing

PV:This time we will come to the AFC U23 Championship with a different mindset, that is the reigning runner-up. Do you think that will be difficult for us?

Commentator Quang Tung:Our mentality is different, for sure. Mr. Park is also instilling such a spirit in his players. The team's determination must still be maintained and promoted. We came here as a runner-up, but let's not rush to mention 3rd or 4th place or defending the runner-up position. We came here to conquer as a team that has accumulated a certain maturity.

The players will have a different mentality and the way they play will also have to be different. We cannot play the way we did in 2018 and wait for opportunities like that. I think U23 Vietnam must ensure more safety, proactively attack more instead of defending and counter-attacking. Counter-attacking is something that any team can use, especially when they have scored a goal.

Commentator Quang Tung believes in coach Park Hang-seo's tactical flexibility. Photo: TK

I believe that Mr. Park has prepared U23 Vietnam with such a mindset when entering the tournament. The players are also confident to play in such a way. If we go deep into the tournament, changes in each match, each moment are normal, especially when facing Korea, Iran - stronger teams.

The way we enter the game, impose and choose, and dominate the game will probably have to be different. We will have to keep the ball more, play with the ball more, organize more attacks, but we must be proactive to create pressure. That is something that can absolutely happen.

Thanks for sharing!

Identifying Park Hang-seo's opponents at the AFC U23 Championship

(Baonghean.vn) - U23 Vietnam is the current runner-up of the tournament and its goal is to reach the final. However, to do that, U23 Vietnam must overcome the group stage, where there are tough opponents such as U23 UAE, U23 Jordan and U23 North Korea.