Vietnam Olympic: Xuan Truong, Cong Phuong - premium reserve

Coach Park Hang Seo has repeatedly affirmed that Xuan Truong is an irreplaceable factor in the Vietnam Olympic team, but in Indonesia, Xuan Truong only started 2/4 matches, a total of 114 minutes with 2 shots on the opponent's goal. The player from Tuyen Quang possesses creative and accurate passes every time he launches an attack.

But compared to the 2018 U23 Asian Cup, Xuan Truong's influence at this year's Asian Games has significantly decreased. Facing opponents who play aggressively and compete fiercely, Xuan Truong's ability to keep the ball and pass the ball beyond the line cannot be brought into play. Opponents also focus on attacking the area Xuan Truong is responsible for.

Sacrifice Xuan Truong

After the U23 Asian Cup, returning to V-League 2018, Xuan Truong did not have a brilliant performance at HAGL but still managed to score 4 goals and assist 6 times for the home team. However, from the Four Nations friendly tournament until now, the 18th Asiad, Xuan Truong has lost his original form.

Recently, this player played 65 minutes against Bahrain before being withdrawn (replaced by Cong Phuong). Truong's mark on the playing style of the Vietnamese Olympic team was quite faint, with only 2 shots that lacked power and accuracy.

With 2 goals scored, Cong Phuong is still an important card for Mr. Park.Photo: Internet

Playing as a starter in the V-League has worn down the 23-year-old midfielder’s stamina. In the Vietnamese Olympic style of play, we don’t play defensive counter-attacks, so we don’t have a “sweeper” to play midfield with Truong. Due to the presence of senior Van Quyet, Truong’s role in organizing has been greatly reduced.

If in the 2018 U23 Asian Cup, Xuan Truong tended to play close to the opponent's goal to organize attacks, behind Duc Huy was always ready to compete and take on defense. At present, Mr. Park often puts him in pairs with Hung Dung, Van Quyet and now Quang Hai.

All three players tend to attack high up the pitch, and have better speed than Truong, so they play higher than this midfielder. This means that Xuan Truong is forced to retreat to the back, taking on defensive duties. That is inherently not the strength of the midfielder from Tuyen Quang.

Not to mention, even Van Duc can participate in creating when entering the field, so the ball does not necessarily have to go through Truong's feet like before. When his physical strength is no longer maintained at peak condition throughout the 90 minutes of play, not having a strong teammate to play a defensive cover role greatly affects Truong's playing style.

When his physical strength is not maintained well throughout the 90 minutes, plus he has to play against his strengths, it is understandable that Xuan Truong is not used continuously and is not in the playing style of the Vietnam Olympic team.

Syria is also a team that plays close and is not afraid of collision. Coach Park Hang Seo will prioritize the use of the central midfielder pair Quang Hai and Duc Huy. When necessary to resolve the attacking deadlock, the Korean coach will put Xuan Truong to play with Duc Huy.

This is the plan we used in the U23 Asian tournament at the beginning of the year, hopefully it will help Olympic Vietnam overcome Syria.

Luxury Reserve

The duo Xuan Truong and Cong Phuong are not in good form as the Vietnamese Olympic team chooses a physical pressing style of play. Photo: Internet

In the past 4 matches (3 group stage matches and 1 round of 16 match), Cong Phuong only started in the opening match, winning 3-0 against Pakistan, and he also contributed 1 goal but missed 2 penalties. Cong Phuong is more suitable for counter-attacking style, when the front line needs a player who can hold the ball, break through or wait for the second line to attack.

When Mr. Park chose to play pressing football, Cong Phuong's dribbling style was somewhat cumbersome and he did not compete in the opponent's half of the field, which was a minus point. In the context that the Vietnam Olympic team has many players who can do this task well such as Van Quyet, Quang Hai, Van Duc, this player's opportunity to play from the start is less.

For Mr. Park, except for the defense line that needs stability, Olympic Vietnam does not have any main players. Xuan Truong and Cong Phuong are always indispensable players of the team because of their natural technical qualities. But that does not mean that the two players from HAGL always take the main position. That is the new feature of Olympic Vietnam "Park Hang Seo version"!

Except for goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung, these 10 players are expected to start against Syria. They are three central defenders Dinh Trong, Duy Manh, Tien Dung; two wing-backs Van Thanh, Van Hau; two central midfielders Duc Huy, Quang Hai and the attacking trio Van Quyet, Van Duc, Anh Duc.