The U17 story of Cong Phuong and Trong Tuan

However, when asked about the strongest impressions after a dramatic tournament, Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan, who has long been very good with young players and will soon be the head coach of U17 Vietnam at the ASIAN CUP U17-2023, said that the U17 Song Lam Nghe An team really left him with a lot of trust and confidence. This coach said that U17 Song Lam Nghe An is a team with many quality players, especially "their playing style is very brave and experienced" (according to bongdaplus.vn, March 22, 2023).

U17 Song Lam Nghe An is a team with many quality players. Photo: Archive

Obviously, this is an objective and correct comment for U17 Song Lam Nghe An and from here, this excellent generation of players will be given the opportunity by the coach to continue to the National U17 team, practice, compete and contribute. Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan also expressed regret that U17 Song Lam Nghe An recently failed to make it to the final match of the tournament. And it seems that this is the story worth telling, worth discussing about a quality team with many excellent players, considered to be brave and experienced but unable to overcome an equal opponent in a decisive match. In which, the role of outstanding individuals with great responsibility is often the first important factor that needs to be considered.

Let's go back to the recent U17 semi-final match between Song Lam Nghe An and Viettel to see the story in more detail. U17 Song Lam Nghe An entered the match more openly, with more sharp attacks, but could not overcome the very well-organized and alert Viettel defense. And with just one set piece, Cong Phuong launched a precise, unexpected ball for center-back Thanh Binh to run down and head it neatly, scoring the opening goal, pouring cold water on the excited but deadlocked opponent.

In the final match, in another corner, Cong Phuong once again took a free kick that could not have been better, leaving Thanh Binh to rush down and jump high to head the ball to score against U17 Ha Tinh. Not to mention his two forte situations, like an excellent trump card, Cong Phuong also attacked and defended rhythmically, flexibly, truly "experienced and brave" to carry the team in the decisive match, bringing the team to the throne in a worthy and convincing way.

Meanwhile, the young players who had played very well in the previous qualifying and group stages, when facing an experienced, fierce, and fair opponent, suddenly became confused and lost themselves without knowing it.

Captain Trong Tuan of U17 Song Lam Nghe An is an irreplaceable pillar, excellent in defense or attack, powerful, good passing, dangerous free kicks, inspiring his teammates to play well. But in this tense semi-final match, Trong Tuan's free kick flew up in the air more than once, proving that his mentality was not stable, he lacked confidence, far behind the "class" that Cong Phuong always demonstrated in the nerve-wracking moments as mentioned above. And not only Trong Tuan, excellent player Trong Son missed his shot twice when he had a clear chance, including the penalty situation at the end of the match. Long Vu was still shining on the right wing, but that was not enough to create conditions for his teammates or to score himself as before.

To see, in an unlucky afternoon, completely deadlocked, completely lost, the young players of Song Lam Nghe An could not overcome themselves at the most decisive, most important moment, deciding the success or failure of the entire tournament. The narrow defeat made the sadness of the fans and the players even harder to overcome.

The problem is that they have talent, they have hope, but that is not enough, not enough to reach the important milestones that need to be achieved. It is best to learn how to win from the opponents Viettel and Cong Phuong to draw lessons for yourself. That, by what means, what courage, what training to be steadfast in big, decisive matches? That, in addition to the usual expertise, techniques, and tactics, what tricks and unique strategies are needed to turn even the smallest opportunity into the biggest and turn the tide of battle? That, a resounding victory is not enough, never satisfying, but what is important is a tournament with a long journey, many worthy opponents and knowing how to prepare, knowing how to conserve energy to overcome? That, in the end, the seemingly small gap between real talent and temporary talent is actually a very large gap, not easy to overcome.

For example, Trong Tuan and Cong Phuong in the recent matches were both good, talented, and full of hope. But when facing each other fiercely, it was clear that Cong Phuong was the "more courageous and experienced" player, the one who was recently called up by coach Hoang Anh Tuan to the U20 team to compete in the 2023 ASIAN Cup but did not rush to rush the stage. Then this coach predicted that Cong Phuong would soon be on the Vietnam National Team in the not too distant future!

So, Trong Tuan must try harder, must be more determined, must be more alert when placed next to Cong Phuong in the current context. All comparisons are lame, of course, but having a specific "weighing and measuring" to know where you are, what you lack to strive for, and learn from is more necessary and meaningful than ever. In the upcoming list of U17 Vietnam, it is not known whether Cong Phuong or Trong Tuan and many other excellent teammates will be on the list or not, because this is related to many objective and subjective factors. But hopefully this new race will bring young talents to new, broader horizons and they themselves will learn many valuable lessons to add to the luggage of Vietnamese youth football towards the World Cup in the not too distant future./.