Why is European football always so appealing to audiences?

Vietnamese football fans are excited about both futsal (competing for a spot in the World Cup finals with the Lebanese team) and men's football (second round of World Cup qualifiers in the Asian region), all at the same time as European football (EURO 2020 - delayed by a year due to Covid-19) and South American football (Copa America 2021).

Of course, the love of football among Vietnamese fans is primarily devoted to the Vietnamese national football teams, and this has been rewarded: the Vietnamese Futsal team has qualified for the World Cup finals for the second time, and the Vietnamese men's team has also reached the third and final round of the 2022 World Cup in the Asian region for the first time!

Highlights of Ukraine's 0-4 defeat to England in the EURO 2020 quarter-finals. Photo: bongdaplus

While the draw for the third round has just concluded, international football has once again become the main focus for Vietnamese fans. A noteworthy observation is: Why are Vietnamese fans more interested in European football matches than South American ones, even though those two regions are full of world-class football stars?

If Europe has the legendary Ronaldo (Portugal), then South America has Messi (Agentina) or Neymar (Brazil), and clashes between the top teams of these two continents are always considered classics. This time is completely different; Messi is playing exceptionally well for Argentina, and Neymar, if he's in the starting lineup, Brazil will win regardless of their formation! While EURO matches often take place late at night for Vietnamese people, Copa America matches are held early in the morning, which is very convenient. So why do both the press and fans pay so little attention to the Samba dances?

Messi celebrates after scoring a stunning free-kick goal. Photo: Reuters

Is it because the media coverage of South American soccer and the Copa America, from domestic to regional tournaments, is too lackluster, failing to attract viewers? Meanwhile, European soccer, considered the birthplace of the sport and known for its ability to counter the intricate, flamboyant style of play of South America—a style that has always been captivating—comes with continuous and widespread media coverage, making fans feel familiar and close to it, like family?

South American football, with Brazil and Argentina at its peak, developed on the foundation of street football, showcasing individual talent within a thriving, cohesive team. Meanwhile, European football produces talent through systematic, scientific training, using intelligence to stifle the creativity of opponents. Europeans have practiced total football for over 50 years, starting in the Netherlands and spreading to other national teams, each with its own vibrant and effective style. When Europeans implemented their football philosophy, with the dynamic and exciting tiki-taka style, surprisingly, the top student of European football coaches was a South American who received his football training in Europe from a young age: Messi!

Furthermore, for many consecutive years, South American football has revolved around powerhouses like Brazil or Argentina, occasionally Uruguay or Paraguay. Meanwhile, European football shows constant shifts in power: not only Italy or Germany, but also France, Spain, and Portugal, England, Croatia, and Denmark, who shouldn't be underestimated because they can "rise up" at any time and humiliate the teams above them.

If you carefully observe European football matches, you can notice many interesting aspects regarding tactics and the role of coaches, from which those involved can learn a great deal. For example, at EURO 2020, the Italian team displayed a completely different face from their traditional style of classic, impenetrable defense, disrupting the opponent's play and suffocating them, much like how defender Gentile "neutralized" Maradona at Espana 1982.

The current Italian team deploys three central defenders and a midfield of five or four players, actively preventing the opponent from the midfield and utilizing the energetic and creative play of playmakers like Verati. All of Italy's forwards are capable of scoring. It's fascinating to watch how the Italians organize their free-kicks: a group of three players stand in front of the opponent's wall, another group of three stands behind that wall, and when a teammate prepares to take the free kick, both virtual walls immediately move strategically, confusing the opposing goalkeeper's judgment.

Furthermore, Verati took a free kick from a slightly angled position with a short pass to the outermost defender, allowing the striker to run in and volley the ball into the far corner of the goal, leaving many in awe. The beauty of this technique lies in the fact that while it's anticipated and anticipated, it's impossible to completely stop it. Anyone can learn this free-kick technique, but whether they can execute it successfully is another matter…

In Vietnam, the image of star player Cong Vinh (CV9) striking a beautiful pose when preparing to take a free kick and his unique celebration after scoring a goal is probably something he learned from European and world star Ronaldo (CR7). And certainly, coaches and players in many parts of the world, including Vietnam, have learned many valuable lessons from world football.

At this EURO, we see the fighting spirit of the Hungarians and Swiss; the Italians and Austrians are formidable and will find ways to make their opponents suffer; the French have a fantastic generation of players but their arrogance could be a bitter pill to swallow; and don't underestimate those who qualified through the play-offs like Denmark and Ukraine, because after going through a near-death experience, they will be very resilient...

There may be many other interesting things left unmentioned, but perhaps these are the reasons why all the attention is constantly focused on European football, which is truly full of surprises and captivating until the very last moment?

Chau Phu