AFF Cup 2018: Myanmar's "trump cards"

Familiar diagram

The biggest advantage of the 4-1-4-1 formation that Myanmar is using is that the team has a dedicated defensive midfielder, so good interception ability ensures the team's safety, and the midfield has five players, allowing them to control the midfield.

Coach Antoine Hey asserted: "Myanmar will launch an early attack on the Vietnamese players using a 4-1-4-1 formation." (Image: Internet)

However, since there is only one striker, this center forward must possess qualities such as speed and goal-scoring prowess. The midfielders must control the midfield and distribute the ball well; otherwise, the attack will be completely disrupted and ineffective. When needed, this style of play can be modified into a 4-5-1 or 4-3-3 formation thanks to the mobility of the defensive midfielder and the two wing midfielders.

Under coach H. Calisto, both the U23 and national teams used this tactical formation, and the Vietnamese national team won the 2008 AFF Cup using the 4-1-4-1 formation. The defensive midfield position, considered the linchpin between the attack and defense, was given to Thai Duong (HAGL) and, as a second option, Vu Anh Tuan (Dong Thap).

Previously, he had given opportunities to Quy Suu (Dong Thap), Cong Minh (SLNA), Minh Chau (Hai Phong), who were extremely strong players, as well as Van Binh, who was very skillful, good at ball control and fiercely contested without lacking intelligence.

During Coach Huu Thang's tenure, wanting to utilize the central midfield pairing of Tuan Anh and Xuan Truong, he favored the 4-1-4-1 formation, with Ngo Hoang Thinh playing as the defensive midfielder behind the two central defenders.

Two trump cards

Coach Antoine Hey has a defensive midfielder Hlaing Bo Bo (6) who does a good job of controlling the area in front of the two central defenders. This number 6 midfielder is young, strong and has quite good tactical thinking, so in addition to taking on the task of intercepting from afar, he also scored 2 goals himself. Thanks to the mobility of Hlaing Bo Bo, the 4-1-4-1 formation quickly transforms into a 4-5-1.

Hlaing Bo Bo's equalizer, making it 1-1, was the turning point in Myanmar's 4-1 comeback victory, and this player certainly shouldn't be underestimated. The Quang Hai - Hlaing Bo Bo clash is therefore more interesting than ever, as these two players represent the young generation of football from their respective countries.

Do Aung Thu (10) has just returned to the field after injury, so the center forward position is given to M.Zin (9) and Than Htet Aung (20). So far, Than Htet Aung has scored 1 goal from the bench, while M.Zin has not scored any goals after 2 matches.

Approximately 2,000 Vietnamese fans are expected to flock to Thuwunna Stadium. Photo: Internet

With the attempts to test both M.Zin (9) and Than Htet Aung (20) not yielding the desired results, Coach Antoine Hey considered the option of having Aung Thu (10) play as a striker. In the match against Laos, Aung Thu was often pushed up to play as the highest striker and it was he who equalized 1-1 for Myanmar before winning 3-1.

Coach Antoine Hey didn't want to field Aung Thu as a central striker from the start of the match against Laos to take advantage of the number 10's speed. With just a few quick turns and dribbles, Aung Thu could easily bypass the Laotian players and be effective when standing about 30 meters from the opponent's goal. This playing style is quite similar to that of former Vietnam national team captain Cong Vinh.

But when instructed to play higher up the pitch, closer to the Vietnamese goal, this is the name our three central defenders had to keep an eye on. Coach Antoine Hey instructed the wing midfielders to make 20-25 long passes into the area in front of the goal. By the time the central defenders were exhausted, the Myanmar players had pressed, taking advantage of the chaos to score.

With a team that conceded a goal but still managed to come back and score 7 goals in 2 matches like Myanmar, no opponent dared to underestimate them. Hlaing Bo Bo and Aung Thu are the two names who scored the equalizers in those comebacks that Que Ngoc Hai and his teammates must remember. Conversely, if we can take advantage of the space in front of the two central defenders Pyho (27) and Zaw Min Tun (32) when Hlaing Bo Bolao goes forward to attack, we will soon have a goal.

An Thanh