Concerns in Vietnam National Team before AFF Cup 2018
(Baonghean.vn) - Although coach Park Hang Seo has called up 30 players to prepare for the AFF Cup 2018, experts and domestic fans are still not really confident about the right-back and striker positions.
1.The unfortunate absence of Vu Van Thanh will significantly affect the journey to conquer the AFF Cup 2018 championship of Coach Park Hang Seo and his team. The talent and importance of the defender born in 1996 is beyond dispute. Just look at the number of 3614 minutes of play for HAGL, Vietnam National Team and U23 Vietnam in 2018 of Vu Van Thanh.
Perhaps, the Korean strategist is one of the people who feels the saddest and most worried when knowing that Vu Van Thanh cannot join the national team because of a serious injury. Thus, the best right-back of Vietnamese football in recent times will not participate in the AFF Cup 2018. This is a big loss for the Vietnamese national team.
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| Vu Van Thanh missed the AFF Cup 2018 due to injury. Photo: Internet |
In addition to Vu Van Thanh, two players, Pham Xuan Manh (SLNA) and Tran Van Kien (Hanoi FC), also did not appear in this training session of the Vietnam National Team. Under coach Park Hang Seo, Pham Xuan Manh is the most suitable backup option for Vu Van Thanh in the right-back position. Whenever Vu Van Thanh does not play or plays on the opposite wing, Manh "Kalou" is sent onto the field by coach Park.
The same is true for Tran Van Kien. Objectively speaking, the player currently playing for Hanoi FC is one of the best right-backs in Vietnamese football today. His performances in the 2018 V.League champion team are undeniable proof. Unfortunately, Tran Van Kien's health is not guaranteed, so coach Park Hang Seo had to "remove" him from the preparation plan for the 2018 AFF Cup.
Obviously, without Vu Van Thanh, Pham Xuan Manh and Tran Van Kien, the right-back position of the Vietnam National Team will not be able to make experts and fans feel truly secure. Hopefully, Coach Park Hang Seo will succeed in his calculations so that the right-back position will not become the "Achilles heel" of the Vietnam National Team in the upcoming tournament.
2.In addition to the concern at the right-back position, there is also the concern at the striker position. According to the list just announced by Coach Park Hang Seo, there are only 3 players who are good at playing in the striker position: Nguyen Anh Duc, Nguyen Tien Linh (B.Binh Duong) and Ha Duc Chinh (SHB Da Nang). In terms of quantity, there is plenty, but in terms of quality, there is still a big problem.
Most likely at the AFF Cup 2018, Nguyen Anh Duc is the number 1 striker, playing highest on the attack line of the Vietnam National Team. From class to experience, Nguyen Tien Linh and Ha Duc Chinh cannot compare to the captain of B.Binh Duong. However, Nguyen Anh Duc's current form is not very impressive. At the V.League 2018, the striker born in 1985 only scored 4 goals after 20 matches.
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| Nguyen Anh Duc is not in good form this season. Photo: Internet |
If based on scoring records, Nguyen Anh Duc is far behind his two juniors Nguyen Tien Linh (15 goals) and Ha Duc Chinh (9 goals). Unfortunately, in this year's season at SHB Da Nang, Ha Duc Chinh often has to play as a winger or a striker. Meanwhile, Nguyen Tien Linh lacks experience in the international arena.
Surely coach Park Hang Seo is considering the experience of Nguyen Anh Duc with the youth and high form of the killer duo Nguyen Tien Linh - Ha Duc Chinh. Each has their own qualities, but no one is "perfect ten out of ten". Who will play the highest up the attack line is not an easy problem to solve for coach Park Hang Seo.
There is less than a month left until the AFF Cup kicks off (early November). With such a short period of time, it will be difficult for the Korean strategist to help Nguyen Anh Duc regain his best form and help the young killer duo Nguyen Tien Linh and Ha Duc Chinh mature significantly.
There is a saying: “Hardships reveal heroes”. In the current situation, Coach Park Hang Seo’s ability to “cut his coat according to his cloth” will be maximized. The strategist born in 1959 will have reasonable calculations to build the Vietnam National Team into a perfect machine, capable of conquering the throne at the AFF Cup 2018./.