Facing Thailand, what did Vietnamese football "break out"?

Vietnamese football after the AFF Cup 2021 (actually 2020, delayed due to Covid-19), at the regional level, if we talk about the recent matches against Indonesia (0-0) or Malaysia (3-0), we will not have an objective view because the opponents are both strangely weak like Malaysia and "weak" and weak like Indonesia.

Certainly, when and only when confronted withThailand national teamOnly then can we clearly know the strengths and weaknesses of each team, and discover many things and things that must be learned and done next.

Let me also say right away, with the first and second leg format, the way of behaving is completely different and usually the first leg will decide the way of behaving and the approach. In the first leg, Mr. Park Hang-seo arranged the starting lineup to include 6/11 HAGL players, who tend to play aggressively, attack and of course, are not used to... defending? And the whole team just rushed forward and then with just one exemplary counter-attack, the Vietnam team, which has not lost to the Thais in the past 4 years, has not lost to any regional opponent in 34 matches played, was humiliated and conceded a goal.

Tan Tai regretted that Vietnam missed many opportunities that could have been converted into goals. Photo: Internet

Then came the second goal of the Thais, with a central attack, passing 3 players and then Chanathip neatly placed the ball into Nguyen Manh's net before the helplessness of the entire famous defense of the Vietnam National Team. From that moment on, the Thais had full control over the remaining time of the first and second leg, forcing us to be "controlled" on the field by the opponent.

That was when the Thais took the initiative to play defensively, disrupting the game, cutting off the opponent's connections to disrupt the match, causing the Vietnamese team to fall into a passive, impatient position, bankrupting all calculations. Unfortunately, not only the players but also the coach were confused, "chaotic" causing everything to not be able to get out of the skillful control of the Thais.

In the first leg of the semi-final, Mr. Park assigned the two most important "hot spots" to the wings (Hong Duy - Van Thanh) and the attacking pair (Van Toan - Cong Phuong) and the results of the activities of attacking - defending or creating a wall - coordinating - finishing of the Vietnam National Team, everyone knows? In the second half, when the opponent gave up the field, when Mr. Park was forced to change the entire attacking pair (Tien Linh entered the field, especially when Cong Phuong left, Duc Chinh entered), replacing Van Thanh, clearly the game of the Vietnam National Team was much brighter? Similarly, in the first half of the second leg, when the attacking line was Tien Linh - Duc Chinh, the wings had Tan Tai in from the start, the Vietnam National Team played a match that could not have been better, except for not scoring a goal. Of course, it was a pity that Tien Linh's best form "fell" after playing so well in the 2nd and 3rd Qualifiers of the World Cup, causing everything to slip away in countless regrets.

And the second half of the return leg played out almost the same as the first half of the first leg when Mr. Park again assigned Cong Phuong - Van Toan to play the highest position, and then they seemed to "disobey" the outlined strategy of playing close to the flanks, just moving inside, near the opponent's goal and failing miserably against the 3 superior central defenders of the Thai. Along with Tuan Anh being substituted after 13 minutes on the field, with Thanh Chung being brought up high, and Van Xuan and Xuan Manh being brought into the field for the last 10 minutes of the match, no one understood how confused, helpless and hopeless Mr. Park was against an opponent who was playing more and more alert and creatively?

To defend against Vietnam's attacks, the Thai defenders did not hesitate to commit many fouls. Photo: Internet

Also to see himPark Hang-seoHow effective has it been to continuously shuffle the cards and what is the quality of the cards he has, chosen and trusted, and is currently achieving when facing Thailand, the number 1 opponent in the region? Not to mention that for a long time, the defense - counterattack has always been a familiar environment, now forced to play offensively, imposing, Mr. Park and his team are bewildered and confused to the point that the attack is cramped and the defense is open as what they saw against the "good at everything" Thai people even though in recent years they have always been behind on the rankings?

And more than anyone else, Mr. Park Hang-seo should read and ponder the statistics of the players called up to the national team, their specific achievements (for example, there is a media star who has been known as a striker for many years but has not scored a single goal for the national team?)... to decide whether to continue calling him or not when calling him up next time, instead of the story of "suiting his playing style" or some meaningless arguments, which if you look at the 2 matches against the Thais, it is clear as day?

Are there achievements or reputations in the past that have passed away, that if we continue to place our trust in them, we will immediately encounter failure, as an objective inevitability? While Vietnamese football, although not many, cannot be said to lack new, potential factors ready to fulfill the tasks of both the SEA Games and the AFF Cup 2022?