Dang Van Lam and Que Ngoc Hai: The more they argue, the closer they become.

Not long ago, it was Van Lam who expressed the most concern for Ngoc Hai when the central defender from Nghe An lost his main Facebook account: "My friend is so unlucky. Hai's Facebook account has just been hacked! Please be careful with malicious activities! Hai will let everyone know when he gets his Facebook back! Thank you."

Dang Van Lam's controversial encounter with Que Ngoc Hai. Photo: Internet

Off the field, Van Lam and Que Hai are inseparable. Whether in the car or at the airport, Hai and Lam always sit next to each other. This close relationship is what helps them understand each other and has contributed greatly to the solid, impenetrable defense of the Vietnamese national team in this tournament.

The defensive line, with Hai and Lam forming the central axis, was operating smoothly until it suddenly encountered a slight problem.

In the 79th minute of the match between Vietnam and the Philippines, the Vietnamese defense had a moment of poor coordination. Immediately after catching the ball, goalkeeper Dang Van Lam became angry with center-back Que Ngoc Hai. Hai "Que" responded with a displeased expression and rather aggressive words.

The two players argued loudly after Que Ngoc Hai's marking. Photo: Internet

That reaction caused many people to feel anxious at the most intense moment of the match. They feared that a rift would form between Van Lam and the team, affecting their performance.

The reaction of those two players is actually understandable. Although Vietnam was holding an advantage over the visiting Philippines team, just a slight mistake could cost them dearly, resulting in a goal conceded. No one could predict what would happen if the opposing team pressed forward while the home team's morale was low, scoring another goal.

To be fair, from the beginning of the tournament, the defensive system that Coach Park had built for the Vietnamese national team had been rock-solid, and there shouldn't have been any moments of lapse in concentration like that.

Van Lam's irritated reaction was actually just a way to urge his teammates in the defense to focus, as the match was in a very dangerous, evenly matched state. Explaining to the fans: "We just wanted to help each other focus more. It's nothing serious, everyone!" - Que Ngoc Hai shared on his personal page after doubts arose following the incident on the field.

Lam "Tay" posts photo with Que Ngoc Hai, dispelling rumors of an argument on the football field. Photo: Internet

As for Van Lam, he also eased the fans' worries by posting a picture of the two of them hugging affectionately with smiles on their faces, along with the short caption: "For one goal."

In this match, both Van Lam and Ngoc Hai continued to excel alongside the Vietnamese defense, frustrating the opposing team's strikers for most of the game. They only managed to score one consolation goal at the end of the match after conceding two goals from Quang Hai and Cong Phuong.

In particular, Que Ngoc Hai, the captain of the Vietnamese national team, responded to criticism from some media outlets that he had not performed well in the first leg with a brilliant performance in this second leg.

No victory is ever perfect. Therefore, the story between Van Lam and Ngoc Hai ultimately boils down to their responsibility to the team. It's essentially just a normal story between men. They never hold grudges, readily argue once and for all, and the more they argue, the closer they become.

Quang Huy