Assessing the strength of Singapore and Vietnam before the semi-final match

The strength of the Singapore team

Singapore entered the semi-finals as runners-up in Group A, after a commendable performance. They won two, drew one and lost just one match to Thailand. Coach Tsutomu Ogura's team stood out with their tight defense and sharp counter-attacks.

Singapore's defense is well organized with Safuwan Baharudin and experienced goalkeeper Izwan Mahbud in command. The biggest highlight in the Singapore squad is Shawal Anuar, the striker who leads the scoring list at the AFF Cup 2024 with 4 goals. Anuar's dynamism in attack is a big threat to any opponent.

However, Singapore still face limitations in squad depth. Their defensive counter-attacking style of play requires high intensity, while their fitness and stability in long matches remain questionable.

The strength of the Vietnamese team

The Vietnamese team showed their strength in Group B with an unbeaten record (3 wins, 1 draw), topping the group and entering the semi-finals as a candidate for the championship. Coach Kim Sang Sik has a team of players with a balanced and high quality, the most prominent of which is Nguyen Xuan Son. This striker had an impressive debut with 2 goals and 2 assists in the match against Myanmar, receiving an absolute score from Sofascore.

Vietnam's attack line is highly rated with the presence of Nguyen Tien Linh, Vi Hao and Xuan Son, bringing diversity in the approach to the opponent's goal. In the midfield, Quang Hai and Hoang Duc play an important role in controlling the tempo of the match.

However, Vietnam's weakness is their slow start. In the group stage, the team did not score any goals in the first half, which put a lot of pressure on the players in the second half. This is a factor that needs to be improved when facing a team with a solid defense like Singapore.

Match review

The match between Singapore and Vietnam promises to be a confrontation between two contrasting styles. Singapore relies on home field advantage, artificial turf and a defensive counter-attacking style of play, while Vietnam has a superior squad and prefers ball control.

Vietnam will need to use their attacking prowess to find an early goal and ease the pressure heading into the second leg. However, they will also need to be wary of dangerous counter-attacks from Shawal Anuar and his teammates. Singapore, on the other hand, will try to capitalize on their home advantage to secure a favorable result, but the difference in squad quality could make it difficult for them to face the might of the "Golden Star Warriors."

Prediction: Vietnam will win narrowly with a score of 2-1, thanks to the brilliance of the stars in attack.