Vietnam Olympic team: Concerns about the midfield.
(Baonghean.vn) - So far, we have kept a clean sheet after 4 matches at the Asian Games and are the only team in Southeast Asia still with a chance to compete for a medal, surprising and impressing experts both domestically and regionally. However, the Vietnamese Olympic team has revealed many weaknesses in the midfield area.
First of all, it must be said that although they only brought their U21 squad to Indonesia, the Bahrain Olympic team is clearly not as weak as people think. Even though the head coach of the Bahrain Olympic team, Samir Chammam, claimed he didn't know much about the Vietnam Olympic team, their tactics and formations surprised us.
They knew how to exploit the weaknesses in Coach Park Hang Seo's team's defense. In fact, the Vietnamese Olympic team only played better than their opponents from the moment Bahrain was reduced to ten men, and it wasn't until the end of the match that Cong Phuong scored the winning goal.
Midfield worries
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| Xuan Truong's inconsistent form is a cause for concern among fans. (Image: Internet) |
Clearly, in the central midfield position, Xuan Truong is no longer in the same form as he was at the beginning of the year. The midfielder from Tuyen Quang still plays with great effort, but the passes through his feet are quite lackluster, and Xuan Truong is invisible both in attack and in defensive support.
In the 3-4-3 formation, both wingers Duc Huy and Van Thanh were a cause for concern. While Duc Huy on the left wing failed to coordinate well with his senior teammate Van Quyet and delivered no decent crosses, Van Thanh on the opposite wing was another insecure position for the Vietnamese Olympic team. Van Thanh's performance was poor; when he lost possession during attacks, he didn't move back. Therefore, the space behind him was constantly exploited by opponents, including the situation where a Bahraini attacker faced goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung one-on-one.
The injury to center-back Dinh Trong has disrupted the stability of the Vietnamese Olympic team's defense. Van Hau's coordination with the other two center-backs is still lacking, resulting in many situations where the Hanoi FC player has to clear the ball safely.
The opponent is quite strange.
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| The average age of the Syrian Olympic team is 22; they are the team with the best physical fitness and build at ASIAD 18. Photo: Internet |
The Syrian Olympic team is quite a formidable opponent. Before facing the Vietnamese Olympic team, they had 3 wins and 1 loss against the Chinese U23 team. Despite losing 0-3 to China, the Syrian Olympic team displayed a solid, pragmatic style of play to ensure safety. Coach Al Faqir stated that he had a plan to counter the Vietnamese U23 team – one of only two teams that haven't conceded a goal, along with Uzbekistan.
The average age of the Syrian Olympic team at the Asian Games is 22, one year older than Coach Park Hang Seo's Vietnamese Olympic team. This explains why they are a team composed of players who have begun to mature in tactical thinking and have more playing experience, unlike the opponents Vietnam has faced since the beginning of the tournament. Furthermore, they are considered to have one of the best physiques and stamina at the 2018 Asian Games. In matches, they outmaneuver their opponents, disrupting their play and stamina. 28.5% of their goals were scored in the last 15 minutes of the first half, and 42.9% of Coach Al Faqir's team's goals were scored in the first 15 minutes of the second half.
Syrian players are also adept at parking the "bus" in front of their goal to protect their lead. They are very good at feigning injury to frustrate their opponents, starting with a slow, drawn-out style of play to limit their opponents' momentum. They are adept at using feigned falls or exaggerating falls to deceive the referee. Youssef Al-Hamwi once attempted a dive to win a penalty against Olympic Palestine, but he couldn't fool the referee.
new physical fitness and fighting techniques
Reaching the quarterfinals after four physically demanding matches, the Vietnamese players' fitness and stamina showed signs of decline. The main reason was the short preparation period for the 2018 Asian Games, and the players had just gone through a period of continuous competition in the V-League.
From this point on, not only the Syrian Olympic team but any team with the strength and physical fitness will pose a challenge to the Vietnamese Olympic team. Facing opponents who are superior in physique and fitness, and who are also more skilled and play a tight game, is a major difficulty for the Vietnamese Olympic team. Opponents have somewhat understood the Vietnamese Olympic team's playing style, having studied us from the U23 Asian Championship to this tournament. This is where the coach comes in.Park Hang Seo will introduce a new strategy; it's highly likely that when Dinh Trong is available to play, Van Hau will return to his familiar position and Duc Huy will replace Xuan Truong.
