National Cup 2023 - an attractive 'dessert' for V.League teams

Attractive prizes

The first reason to mention is the award ofNational Cup 2023. In this year's season, the prize money for the champion team and the second and third place teams has doubled compared to last season. According to the tournament's regulations, the champion team will receive 2 billion VND, the runner-up team will receive 1 billion VND and the two third place teams will each receive 400 million VND.

Hanoi Club is the defending champion of the 2022 National Cup. Photo: VPF

In addition, teams will receive prizes for the winning clubs in each round. The winning club in the qualifying round will receive 10 million VND, the winning club in the round of 16 will receive 20 million VND and the winning club in the quarter-finals will receive 30 million VND.

In addition, the 2023 National Cup Champion will “not have to” participate in the AFC Cup. This is an advantage for the champion, because not participating in Asian tournaments will help the teams save money and the players’ physical strength. With the above reasons, the teams will certainly try their best to win the championship this year.

Attractive match schedule

The 2023 National Cup only has 4 seeded teams: Hanoi Club (reigning Champion), Topenland Binh Dinh (reigning Runner-up) and 2 third-place clubs Dong A Thanh Hoa and Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Therefore, fans will soon witness attractive matches in this year's National Cup.

First of all, we can mention the "death" bracket, where there are strong teams in V.League 2023. They are the current champion Hanoi Club, Viettel Club, the current runner-up of V.League 2022 Hai Phong Club or the two emerging giants Hanoi Police and Nam Dinh Blue Steel.

Schedule of the 2023 National Cup. Photo: VPF

The highlight match of the first round will be the fierce competition between Nam Dinh Steel Club and Hai Phong Club. The winner of this match will most likely have to continue to face another difficulty named Hanoi Police. When the Police team is the team that is rated higher in the match with Khanh Hoa Club.

And if there are no surprises in round 1, fans across the country will still be able to witness the match between Hanoi Club and Viettel Club in round 2. This can be considered the early final of the tournament. Another match in round 2 that will also attract the attention of the audience is the match between Topenland Binh Dinh and Song Lam Nghe An. However, this match will only happen if coach Huy Hoang's team overcomes the visiting team Quang Nam Club in round 1.

It can be said that looking at the schedule of the 2023 National Cup, each round will have exciting matches for Vietnamese fans.

Training opportunities for football teams

With the National Cup rounds usually being arranged after the V.League and First Division tournaments take a break to make way for theNational Teamfocus. These matches will be an opportunity for clubs to regain their playing form and test their players' form after a long period of not playing.

Dinh Xuan Tien and his teammates will have the opportunity to test themselves at the 2023 National Cup. Photo: Chung Le

In addition, facing weaker opponents from the First Division will help V.League clubs create conditions for young players to compete. Fierce matches in the National Cup will help young players quickly mature and have the opportunity to assert themselves in the club's colors.

The first rounds of the National Cup are useful warm-ups for clubs before the V.League and the National First Division return.

How will Song Lam Nghe An compete in this year's National Cup?

Since winning the 2017 National Cup and reaching the semi-finals of the 2018 National Cup, the Nghe An team has not advanced further in this competition. In the last three times, Song Lam Nghe An were eliminated in the first round and those were all bitter defeats against teams from the First Division.

This season, once again Song Lam Nghe An will meet an opponent from the First Division, C.Quang Nam Club. And this will be a good opportunity for coach Huy Hoang and his team to erase the "curse" that has haunted them for three years. However, to do that, the Nghe An team will have to try very hard. Because after the first 4 matches in V.League, Song Lam Nghe An still has not won.

Topenlad Binh Dinh Club will be a big challenge for Song Lam Nghe An if the Nghe An team passes the first round. Photo: VPF

In the Song Lam Nghe An bracket, Topenland Binh Dinh will be the biggest challenge for the Nghe team on the way to finding a ticket to the semi-finals. If they overcome this challenge in Quy Nhon, the possibility of going further for coach Huy Hoang and his team is very bright because the remaining clubs such as Hong Linh Ha Tinh, Binh Phuoc or Long An are not rated as highly as the Nghe team. Therefore, if they play well, the goal of reaching the semi-finals will still be within reach for Song Lam Nghe An in this year's tournament.

Hopefully, the recent break will help the Nghe An team improve their playing style and perform better in the near future./.