Can the Malaysian coach neutralize Coach Park Hang-seo's 3-4-3 formation?

Compared to the squad that met Vietnam at the AFF Cup 2018, the Malaysian team had quite a few new players in recent matches against Indonesia, UAE and the friendly match against Sri Lanka. The tactical formation was still 4-2-3-1, when defending from a distance it was 4-4-2 and when attacking it was 4-1-3-2, but both the defense and the central midfielders had some changes.

Malaysia's defense at the AFF Cup 2018 includes goalkeeper Marlias (reserve Khairul Fahmi), central defenders Shahrul Saad (3) - Irfan Zakaria (17) or Aidin Zafuan (7), and two fullbacks Syahmi Safari (4) and Syazwan Ishak (6).

Malaysia has tried to strengthen its defense after the AFF Cup 2018 with many new positions. Photo: FAM

In 3 matches against Vietnam, 2 losses and 1 draw at the AFF Cup, conceding 5 goals, coach Tan Chang Hoe seems to have realized the gap in his defense is in the two full-backs. Especially the position of Syahmi Safari - the player wearing the number 4 shirt.

At this time, coach Tan Hang Choe only trusts goalkeeper Marlias and Shahrul Saad (3). The remaining players, the head coach of Malaysia, replaced 1 central defender, Adam Azlin (5), and two full-backs, Matthew Davies (2) and Corbin-Ong (7). In which, both full-backs of Malaysia are naturalized players from Australia and Canada.

In the previous attack, the highest position was not Norshahrul Talaha (9) but attacking midfielder Zaquan Radzak (8). In the match against Indonesia and most recently in the friendly against Sri Lanka, Talaha was pushed up to play the highest position and the presence of attacking midfielder Syafiq Admad (20) playing right behind. This is the only change of Malaysia in the attack compared to the AFF Cup 2018.

Malaysia's attack at the 2018 AFF Cup has not changed much. It is mainly focused on the two wings, where Sumareh (13) and Safawi Rasid (11) are present. In the only goal and also the opening goal of Malaysia against the UAE, the right wing of this team worked well. That was the situation where Sumareh pushed the ball out for full-back Matthew Davies to flip the ball inside, Safawi Rasid jumped high to head the ball.

It can be said that Malaysia's right-wing attacks are only potentially dangerous when both Sumareh and Davies participate. However, if Malaysia's defender Davies is too absorbed in the attack, the opposing team's defense will pay the price, as it did in the past 3 matches at the AFF Cup 2018.

Although Malaysia’s defensive ability on the flanks has improved a lot, their problem is still the ability to counterattack. It should be remembered that most of Malaysia’s goals were due to “counterattacks” by the Vietnam team and their opponents. Among them, the weakest position is still the right-back and right-wing midfielder when supporting the defense.

Van Hau's task is to minimize the danger of Sumareh and Matthew Davies. Photo: Trung Kien

In the 3 matches, Vietnam scored 5 goals, Malaysia scored 2 goals at Bukit Jalil Stadium. However, both goals came from set pieces. In fact, our losses to Malaysia came from two reasons. Firstly, Vietnam scored 2 goals away from home, conceded the game and started to retreat to defend, preserving the score.

Second, when playing at the Malaysian National Stadium with nearly 90,000 spectators, the noise and cheering of Malaysian fans made it difficult for goalkeeper Van Lam to communicate with the players and the defense. Because the goalkeeper is the leader of the defense in such set pieces. The two goals that Van Lam conceded came from a combination of free kicks, headers and direct free kicks.

However, it must also be acknowledged that the Vietnamese defense could not avoid fouls near the 16m50 box, creating conditions for the opponent to have direct free kicks. This is something that both Malaysia and Vietnam must be highly vigilant about because both sides have strikers with good free kick ability. For Vietnam, it is Quang Hai and for Malaysia, it is Safawi (11).

Malaysia coach Tan Chang Hoe broke into the Vietnam national team's training session yesterday afternoon. Photo: Thang Nguyen

Despite refreshing the squad and confidently answering the press, Malaysia coach Tan Chang Hoe still seems to have not found a way to neutralize coach Park Hang-seo’s 3-4-3 formation. The proof is that in the training session of the Vietnam national team yesterday afternoon, this strategist intentionally arrived at the training ground early to listen.

In fact, the Vietnam national team will still apply the 3-4-3 formation that has been skillfully operated by the players, especially when Van Hau and Trong Hoang are still in good shape. However, the biggest difference is whether striker Anh Duc can recover from his injury in time and who will replace Phan Van Duc.

During the training session this afternoon (October 8) of the Vietnam National Team, Coach Park Hang-seo suddenly requested to practice in private and change the training location to Hang Day Stadium. This proves that the Korean strategist has prepared new tactics and strategies to welcome Malaysia. As for Malaysia, if they are impatient to score against Van Lam, Coach Tan Chang Hoe and his team will surely suffer a bitter defeat at My Dinh./.

Why is Southeast Asia helpless against Coach Park Hang-seo's 3-4-3 formation?

(Baonghean.vn) – Based on the advantages and disadvantages of the 3-4-3 formation, we can easily see why Coach Park Hang-seo is loyal to his personnel choices. And this style of play is making Southeast Asia, even Asia, unable to find a solution.