Former player Dinh Luat: 'Vietnam team cannot be subjective against Cambodia'

(Baonghean.vn) – Commenting on Vietnam's opponent in the 2019 ASIAN Cup qualifiers taking place tomorrow (September 5), Cambodia, the former national team midfielder warned Vietnam's defense about striker Chan Vathanaka.

Looking at the list of national team that coach Mai Duc Chung has called up, the central defender who is playing for Ho Chi Minh City Club said: “All the players called up are within the calculations of the coaching staff and head coach Mai Duc Chung. The Vietnam team is in the process of rejuvenation but the overall force is not too bad. And Cambodia is now also progressing very quickly, if we are subjective, we will lose to them.

On the Cambodian side, Chan Vathanaka (born in 1994) is a case that Vietnamese defenders must pay special attention to. This is the type of player that is very suitable for Cambodia's counter-attacking and quick coordination style of play. However, if we play with concentration, there is nothing to worry about."

Finally, commenting on the upcoming match, Truong Dinh Luat shared: “Playing away and on artificial turf will be a challenge for the Vietnamese team. If we focus and perform to our full potential, we will win 1-0 or 2-1, but this is expected to be a very difficult match. Because Cambodia has home field advantage, the Cambodian audience is also very enthusiastic...”

Chan Vathanaka once made Dinh Luat regret in the group stage of AFF Cup 2016. Photo: Internet

In the 4-3-3 formation favored by coach Vitorino of Cambodia, Chan Vathanaka will most likely play as a winger like in the AFF Cup 2016. However, since moving to Japan for the past 6 months on loan, he has not yet played for Fujieda MYFC (J.League 3). However, before moving to Fujieda, Chan Vathanaka scored 116 goals in 90 matches for Boeung Ket in the Cambodian National Championship.

One of the weaknesses of this striker pointed out by the Cambodian press is his poor sense of tactical compliance. However, it was Chan Vathanaka's wild and disruptive playing style that made Dinh Luat very difficult to keep track of and received a direct red card after being passed by this player in the match between Vietnam and Cambodia in the group stage of the AFF Cup 2016.

Trung Kien