Fox Sports plots for Myanmar to defeat Vietnam

Vietnam have been one of the most successful teams since the start of the tournament. The Golden Dragons (the nickname for Vietnam) have scored five goals and have yet to concede. They are almost through to the semi-finals. But Vietnam still has a challenge ahead of them in Myanmar - a team capable of qualifying for the next round. But let's analyze how Myanmar can defeat a solid opponent like Vietnam.

In the past, Vietnam easily defeated Laos and Malaysia. After winning 3-0 in Laos, Vietnam returned home and created a masterful defense to defeat Malaysia 2-0. Vietnam is currently second in Group A and is preparing to face group leader Myanmar - a team that scored seven goals but conceded two.

Aung Thu (number 10) is the most dangerous player on the Myanmar side. Photo:AFF

Aung Thu was expected to be Myanmar’s key player and he did well. The No. 10 equalised against Laos and was the inspiration for Myanmar’s comeback. But the roles of midfielder Hlaing Bo Bo and defender Thein Than Win were equally important.

For Vietnam, the duo Nguyen Anh Duc and Nguyen Cong Phuong took turns shining in the last two matches. Both scored two goals thanks to their good coordination in attack. But we must also praise Coach Park Hang-seo's defense as they have not made even the smallest mistake.

In terms of playing style, Myanmar use a basic 4-5-1 formation that can quickly change to 4-3-3 when attacking. This system allows Myanmar to play a deep formation for the entire 90 minutes, but does not allow the opponent to freely hold the ball. Their playing style depends heavily on midfielder Hlaing Bo Bo and he is doing a good job.

In contrast to Myanmar, Vietnam uses a three-man defence, with a 5-4-1 formation. When attacking, they can switch to a 3-4-3 system. Then the full-backs like Nguyen Trong Hoang and Doan Van Hau move up as midfielders. The central midfielders are also pushed higher. But Vietnam prefers to maintain a low formation, making it difficult for opponents.

Defeating Vietnam is a difficult problem for the teams in Group A. Photo: Giang Huy.

Myanmar tend to keep possession, with 60% of their last two games. Unfortunately for them, Vietnam are adept at playing without the ball. In their last game, Vietnam kept Malaysia at bay despite only having 31% possession. They maintained their formation and did not allow their opponents space to get close. Their effort and tactical discipline also helped Vietnam seal the goal. It is not easy for opponents to score against them, let alone win.

It goes without saying that Myanmar will have to play hard to break down the Vietnamese defence. They benefit from a creative attack with Aung Thu and Moe Aung Lwin. The strikers need to create passes that tear apart the Vietnamese defence, allowing the centre-forwards and wingers to penetrate.

The 4-5-1 formation also helps Myanmar counterattack well, thanks to the five players in the middle. Moreover, the home team is also ready to surprise by pushing high and counterattacking. But if the two teams do not change their approach to the match like in the last match, fans will have to witness a tight match with few chances.

Xuan Binh