U23 Vietnam vs UAE, Coach Park Hang-seo chooses Van Toan or Tien Dung?
(Baonghean.vn) – With many players injured and suspended, the U23 Vietnam squad in the opening match of the 2020 AFC U23 Championship against the UAE will have many changes. And the most concerned position is still the goalkeeper.
Returning to the U23 Asia after 2 years, Coach Park Hang-seo only has 7 students who accompanied him to the Asian final in Changzhou. The current U23 Vietnam squad has many changes in most positions compared to 2 years ago. However, Vietnamese fans still have the right to expect.
In terms of each position, the U23 Vietnam players have some changes. That is in the goalkeeper position, Van Toan will most likely be the main goalkeeper to replace Bui Tien Dung. Although Tien Dung was a hero in Thuong Chau, but at the moment the Thanh Hoa goalkeeper's form is declining.
 |
| Tien Dung's chance to compete is lower than Van Toan's. Photo: Hai Hoang |
Goalkeeper Van Toan is a reliable option. With a height of 1m86, a confident playing style and ability demonstrated at V.League as well as SEA Games, this is a good opportunity for the young goalkeeper born in 1999 to prove himself.
"Bui Tien Dung shone in this tournament 2 years ago, Van Toan has no experience at the continental level. However, a goalkeeper's form is very important, Van Toan has shown a lot, scoring points in the semi-finals and finals of the SEA Games. Personally, I think Van Toan will be the main goalkeeper."
The right-back position used to belong to Van Thanh, the HAGL player who is now a big star in the national team, while Van Thanh's replacement, Tan Tai, is still a potential young star. Players like Van Thanh and Xuan Manh both possess the ability to attack and defend comprehensively, while Tan Tai is a threat in high balls with a height of 1m82. In the opening match against UAE, Tan Tai was suspended and coach Park Hang-seo tested Trong Hung for this position.
The defense line of Duy Manh, Dinh Trong and Tien Dung from 2 years ago is likely to be replaced by Tan Sinh and Thanh Chung. In terms of form, Dinh Trong at the moment cannot be as good as before because he has just returned from injury. It is very difficult for Coach Park to risk putting Dinh Trong on the field from the start, the replacement could be Duc Chien.
 |
| Coach Park Hang-seo will have to find replacements for Dinh Trong and Tan Tai in the opening match. Photo: Hai Hoang |
That will be the problem that Coach Park is trying to find a solution to. With the Tan Sinh - Thanh Chung pair, Thanh Chung's attacking ability, versatility and scoring ability are highly appreciated and are the most reassuring face.
In the left-back position that belongs to Van Hau and at the upcoming U23 Asian Cup, Thanh Thinh will be the one with high expectations. The defender who grew up from PVF is considered to be very good at attacking but still needs to improve his defensive ability. Thanh Thinh's height is not an advantage and his ability still needs to be proven. In general, the defensive wings of U23 Vietnam are somewhat weaker than two years ago.
The midfield of U23 Vietnam that year with Duc Huy, Xuan Truong now belongs to Duc Chien and Hoang Duc. One of the most optimistic points of this pair is their physique. Standing at 1.84 m tall, weighing 79 kg, Duc Chien is on the way to becoming the leading defensive midfielder in Vietnam in the near future. Hoang Duc is a new phenomenon of Vietnamese football. Compared to Xuan Truong, Hoang Duc is stronger, more versatile and has no inferior technique.
 |
| U23 Vietnam is ready to enter the 2020 AFC U23 Championship campaign. Photo: Hai Hoang |
On the attack line, when Phan Van Duc and Nguyen Cong Phuong are past their prime, there are now Quang Hai and two rising stars Tien Linh and Duc Chinh. Two years ago, Quang Hai was one of the best players at the U23 Asian Cup, and now he is still an indispensable factor for U23 Vietnam.
Compared to Van Duc and Cong Phuong, Tien Linh and Duc Chinh are not superior in terms of technique and innovation, but in terms of efficiency, this duo is clearly improving through each tournament. At the 30th SEA Games, Duc Chinh was the top scorer with 8 goals while Tien Linh had 6 goals. At this tournament, they are expected a lot when U23 Vietnam is gradually switching to a 3-5-2 formation with 2 strikers.
The U23 Vietnam group includes UAE, Jordan and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. This is a fairly easy group for coach Park Hang-seo and his team compared to other death groups. The head-to-head record of Vietnamese football with West Asian or Middle Eastern opponents is also very optimistic. Only the opponent North Korea is a mysterious and unpredictable team.
In the past, Vietnamese football has met and achieved good results against the UAE many times. Most recently in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Asia, the Vietnamese team defeated the West Asian team 1-0 at My Dinh Stadium with a goal by Tien Linh.
Commentator Quang Tung comments on U23 Vietnam at the 2020 AFC U23 Championship
(Baonghean.vn) - Is the U23 Vietnam team participating in the 2020 AFC U23 Championship really inferior to the team that created a miracle in Changzhou in 2018? With what mindset will Coach Park Hang-seo and his team come to the tournament in Thailand? Those are the stories shared by commentator Ngo Quang Tung with Nghe An Newspaper reporters.