World Cup 2018 group stage through the perspective of coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh

Teams entering the round of 16. Photo: FIFA

VAR technology at the World Cup is causing a lot of controversy. What is your perspective on this issue?

I think FIFA's application of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology at the 2018 World Cup is a very correct thing. Maybe because it is the first step, there are still some mistakes, but anyway, it brings fairness back to football. VAR makes the audience more excited, as do the players of both teams. This is also a measure to fight against the negativity of football. Many people think that VAR brings a bit of trouble, this and that, but VAR will make the referee more responsible.

VAR was used twice in the match between Argentina and Nigeria at the 2018 World Cup. Photo: Internet

However, there needs to be more specific regulations so that the referee can make decisions. If the referee makes a wrong decision, the referee must take responsibility. For example, the situation of "blowing the whistle" in the match between Nigeria and Argentina. If the referee is wrong, he must take responsibility and be disciplined. Finally, VAR is just a technology to support the referee and is positive and needs more clear regulations.

So what about the "Fairplay" rule that FIFA has applied and is part of the reason why the Japanese team plays a lackluster football?

The Fairplay rule that FIFA applies is also very good. It not only promotes Fairplay in competition but also avoids rough situations and limits penalty cards. Previously, people drew lots to choose the top team, but relying on penalty cards helps to raise the awareness of players significantly.

The case of Japan playing defensively against Poland is because in such a situation, it is just a tactic. It will create a more tactical mindset. This must be said to come from both sides, not just Japan. If Poland needs more goals to win, then the people will have to push forward to compete. Because there is no need to compete, the two teams play like that, forced to play safely.

However, this law is only applicable in advanced football. Because Vietnamese referees can take advantage of penalty cards to make emotional decisions, which is very dangerous.

Coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh.

Can you give a quick assessment of the group stage and which teams have a chance to advance?

After the group stage, there was only one case that made us regret, which was the match between Nigeria and Argentina, specifically the situation of no penalty. All the remaining matches were fair. Any strong team showed their strength. Even the German team, they became outdated, the people could not meet the requirements of the top match, so they accepted to stop early. Overall, the group stage was very fierce. Even Russia won the first two matches, but only lost 0-3. So to say that any team must be really strong to get to the next round, not depending much on luck.

Yesterday, the England team did not show their full strength in the match against Belgium, but I think that this year the England team played really well and was a strong team. Not only the England team, but the youth of the teams was shown. And among them, there are excellent, core players who are the leaders, which also bring better results than teams of similar quality. For example, England or Portugal... will have an easier time going further!”

Thank you!

Thanh Vinh shares the same beat with World Cup 2018

(Baonghean.vn) - On the evening of June 14, the opening ceremony of the 2018 World Cup began, which was also the time when thousands of football fans in Vinh city began a month of "eating football, sleeping football".

Trung Kien