Tactics for Vietnam team to neutralize 'diamond' Thailand

Mr. Polking has won five times atAFF Cup 2020with a 4-4-2 tactical formation with a diamond-shaped midfield. Brazilian football is the "father" of this magical style of play and of course coach Alexander Polking is knowledgeable and is successfully applying it to the Thai team.

The changing way of playing

Having used up 27 of the 30 players sent to Singapore, coach Alexander Polking is still basically loyal to the 4-1-2-1-2 formation, with the 4 midfielders arranged in a diamond shape. The most important issue is that in just over a month of working with the Thai team, coach Alexander Polking has found players to serve the 4-1-2-1-2 formation that he is pursuing. The transition from the 4-2-3-1 formation to the new tactic is the art of the coach, he trusts Phitiwat (16) in the role of central midfielder.

The discovery that S.Yooyen (6) and young player Thanwat (12) can take on both wing duties and when needed move inside to support Phitiwat (16) has given Chanathip Songkrasin a wide range of movement. In the Thai team's style of play, S.Yooyen (6) and Thanwat (12) both move horizontally across the pitch, while in the middle of the pitch with Phitiwat, they also participate in defense while the two full-backs Theerathorn Bunmathan (left) and Narubadin (right) often move up to attack. They are an important source of passing for Dangda, Supachok or Songkrasin inside.

Quang Hai is coach Park's most important player. Photo: VFF

In the match against Myanmar, Narubadin climbed the right wing and passed to Dangda on the edge of the penalty area. After a touch of the ball, Dangda fired a clean right-footed shot, without any momentum, and the Myanmar net shook. In the match against the Philippines, it was Theerathorn Bunmathan's turn to climb the left wing and cross the ball inside for Dangda. Thailand's number 1 striker calmly volleyed the ball with his left foot into the Philippines net. But in the match against Vietnam, Mr. Alexander Polking stopped playing on the wing, focusing on playing in the middle with a high-speed pass-and-go style.

Some weaknesses of the opponent

In the second leg of the semi-finals, difficulties are piling up even though it is certain that Thailand will not change their playing style. Even the two defenders Theerathon Bunmathan, Narubadin Weerawatnodom, goalkeeper Chatchai Bootprom and centre-back Kritsada Kaman received a yellow card and were still sent onto the field. The "diamond" with 4 peaks S.Yooyen (6), Thanwat (12), Phitiwat (16) and Songkrasin (18) will still be continuously rotated by the Brazilian coach in the midfield area. Above is the double-barreled gun Dangda (10), Supachok (7) ready to cause difficulties for goalkeeper Nguyen Manh.

Midfielder Van Duc will have the opportunity to play in the match against Thailand. Photo: VFF

Obviously, if we use the 3-4-3 formation like the first leg, the Vietnamese team will have difficulties. It is difficult for us to maintain a defensive distance when the Thai players can attack across the width of the field. Obviously, the physical foundation of the Thai players is considered better, if they spread out across the field, they will be at a disadvantage. It seems that switching to a 3-5-2 formation, concentrating many players in the midfield area is more reasonable. In the second half of the match against Thailand, when Quang Hai is allowed to play freely, the Vietnamese team's attack will become more dangerous. Number 19 is a Vietnamese player who can make a difference, has experience in facing Thai players and is Coach Park's trump card.

Mr. Park and the coaching staff have of course studied the opponent to prepare for the second leg of the AFF Cup semi-finals. The weakest point of the Thai defense is probably the 22-year-old center-back K.Kaman (26), who is playing for Chonburi Club in Thai.League 1. This is a "rough diamond" under coach Alexander Polking, although K.Kaman has played for U.16, U.19, U.21 and U.23 Thailand. He replaced Suphan Thongsong (Suphanburi) to pair with the naturalized center-back M.Bihr from Denmark and showed good understanding with this senior. However, "flight time" is still something that this player needs to accumulate when wearing the Thai national team shirt and Cong Phuong and Tien Linh will find a way to exploit this position.