Phan Van Duc and the opportunity to meet an old friend

Since joining Asian football in 2006, the Australian team has not faced theVietnam teamBut Phan Van Duc, Quang Hai and 10 other names currently playing for the Vietnam National Team faced U23 Australia at the U23 Asian Cup in early 2018. This was the match where Quang Hai and Phan Van Duc shone, winning 1-0 against U23 Australia, creating the premise for U23 Vietnam to become the runner-up of the tournament. Previously, the U19 Australia team had lost to U19 Vietnam twice in 2013 and 2014.

But at the national team level, things are different. The kangaroo team has participated in the World Cup 3 times in a row in 2010, 2014 and 2018. It is no coincidence that the Australian national team is ranked 34th in the FIFA rankings and 3rd in Asia. Why does the Australian team have such achievements?

Phan Van Duc will meet Ajdin Hrustic and Riley McGree again. Photo: FBNV

Since the loss on January 14, 2018, there are only 3 U23 Australian players left in the national team, while U23 Vietnam has 12 players and is the backbone of the national team. Both coach Graham Arnold and Mr. Park Hang-seo are concurrently in charge of U23, so it is difficult to miss out on young talent. The fact that U23 Australia just participated in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but did not provide many players for the national team shows that the level of football in the land of kangaroos is very high. The elimination rule of Australian football is too great, the abundant supply makes the level of football in this country be raised.

Of the players who faced Phan Van Duc three years ago, only three are still in the Australian squad that will be in Hanoi. The first is 26-year-old goalkeeper Paul Izzo, who plays for Xanthi Club in the Greek Super Liga 2. He was not even registered to play in the 3-0 win over China. Just when Paul Izzo will be able to put on his gloves is a problem because coach Graham Arnold has three good goalkeepers at his disposal.

The second player is midfielder Riley McGree, who plays in the English First Division for Birmingham City, who was brought on by coach Graham Arnold for 3 minutes when the match was already 3-0. Midfielder Riley McGree has just returned from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics with coach Graham Arnold and is in need of getting used to the national team. The 22-year-old's playing style is said to have similarities withPhan Van Duc, but more of a central presence. Riley McGree's ability to position himself and move intelligently in both a 4-2-3-1 and a 4-3-3 suggests he has a bright future with the Australian national team. The No. 14 also possesses pace and a pinpoint pass for both Birmingham and the national team.

Midfielder Ajdin Hrustic will face Quang Hai and Van Duc. Photo: CNN

The third player who is also the brightest star in the U23 Australia team at the same time as Van Duc is midfielder Ajdin Hrustic, who plays for Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany). In Australia's 3-0 victory over China in Doha (Qatar), midfielder Ajdin Hrustic played the full 90 minutes in the role of central midfielder. This 25-year-old midfielder has an extremely skillful left foot, handles the ball neatly, and has through balls that make midfielders Wu Xi and Jin Jingdao extremely tired. Even Jin Jingdao of China was replaced because he could not control this number 10 dancing with the ball.

If Quang Hai is the player who controls the play of U23 Vietnam, then on the opposite side, Ajdin Hrustic of the Australian team is taking on this role. If they are allowed to enter the field, both Van Duc and Quang Hai will have the opportunity to confront this number 10 midfielder. This is an opportunity for us to evaluate the youth training work of the two countries' football. Riley McGree will be the "reserve" of coach Graham Arnold in the campaign to earn a ticket to the 2022 World Cup when facing Japan and Oman. This is also an opportunity for Vietnamese football managers to contemplate and learn from your team building experience.