The impact of 4 players from Nghe An province on the Vietnamese national team.

The player with the most playing time was undoubtedly captain Que Ngoc Hai, who participated in all 8 matches, only getting a 20-minute break to avoid receiving a card after essentially completing his duties. This AFF Cup marked a transformation in the playing style of the player from Nghe An province; his plays were still "made in SLNA," but with a much greater degree of cunning.

Strong impression

Besides maintaining his form and forming the best defense of the tournament alongside Dinh Trong and Duy Manh, this player from Nghe An also had two moments that "won over" netizens. His demeanor was very composed!

It was after the second leg of the semi-final match against the Philippines when a fan impulsively jumped onto the field to approach the players and was quickly subdued by security. Que Ngoc Hai rushed over and hugged the fan, begging the authorities to let him go.

Que Ngoc Hai is increasingly demonstrating his role and composure on the field. Photo: FBNV

This heartwarming moment from the young man from Nghe An has received countless positive comments from fans. After the second leg of the final, before going up to receive the gold trophy, upon seeing Van Quyet, the captain who wasn't playing, Que Ngoc Hai took off his captain's armband and gave it to Van Quyet. Ngoc Hai's meaningful and humane action was highly praised for his organizational skills and compassion.

Van Duc was the player who made the most professional progress in 2018. From being included in the Vietnam U23 team through a last-minute selection, Duc has now become an irreplaceable player in the national team, surpassing his seniors Van Quyet, Thanh Trung, and Minh Tuan.

Van Duc's playing style is simple but demonstrates keen tactical awareness, always occupying good positions to compensate for his physical shortcomings. Thanks to his good individual technique and stamina, the young man from Yen Thanh is like a versatile knife, capable of playing in many positions.

With 2 goals and 2 assists (2 indirect assists in the first leg of the final are not counted), Van Duc deserves to be among the players who made a significant contribution at this AFF Cup.

Van Duc lifts the championship trophy with his teammates. Photo: Trung Kien.

Despite having played eight top-level football seasons, it wasn't until the 2018 AFF Cup, playing out of his natural position, that Trong Hoang truly showcased his footballing prowess. While still displaying aggressive tackles, Hoang "the Bull" had learned to be more precise in winning the ball, managing his energy to withstand the tall and strong players from the Philippines and Malaysia. Vietnam's right flank was consistently well-protected thanks to the dynamism of the SLNA academy player. With two assists, Trong Hoang brilliantly fulfilled his role in this tournament.

At the 2018 AFF Cup, Cong Phuong played the role of a "strategic substitute," only being brought on at the end of matches to showcase his solo abilities in the penalty area. However, Cong Phuong still managed to score 3 goals, alongside Quang Hai, and only behind Anh Duc with 4 goals. Clearly, the player from Do Luong is still a necessary asset for the national team, but to regain his former position, Cong Phuong needs to refine his playing style and improve his defensive capabilities.

Proud of Nghe An

Many experts believe that the playing style of Cong Phuong and Van Quyet is more suitable when facing weaker opponents. Their dribbling skills can disrupt inexperienced defenses, leading to goals conceded. However, against more seasoned opponents, this tactic often slows down the tempo, sometimes allowing the opposing team to retreat and defend. Without a physical advantage, opposing center-backs can easily overpower and dispossess the ball, creating dangerous counter-attacks for the home team.

With the AFF Championship victory, Vietnamese fans are just as proud of the national team as the people of Nghe An are of their sons who participated in the journey to bring the trophy back to Vietnam. Everyone will have different feelings and emotions for Van Duc, Ngoc Hai, Trong Hoang, and Cong Phuong, but there is one thing in common: we all have the right to be proud of the players from Nghe An who have worn and are wearing the national team jersey.