AFF Cup: Strong candidates for the championship revealed

Table B situation

From the beginning, it was determined that Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam would be the 3 teams competing for 2 tickets to the semi-finals of the AFF Cup 2021. All 3 coaches of the teams tried to win big against weaker opponents such as Laos and Cambodia and then cautiously scored points in the confrontations with each other. Therefore, it was not difficult for Korean coach Shin Tae-yong of Indonesia, sitting in the stands watching the match between Vietnam and Malaysia, to see the personnel change of his colleague, coach Park Hang-seo, who is in charge of the Vietnamese team.

ByCoach Park Hang-seoThere were 4 changes in the main squad, which were the return of Que Ngoc Hai, Vu Van Thanh, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Nguyen Quang Hai. These were the students that Mr. Park often used in the 2022 World Cup Asian qualifiers.

Vietnamese class

More than anyone else, coach Tan Cheng-Hoe understands the strength of Vietnam's attack, exactly 3 years ago when they conceded 2 goals at home (2-2 draw). Therefore, Mr. Tan Cheng-Hoe did not use the 35-year-old naturalized Brazilian striker Paula but chose L. Hakim, a 19-year-old young striker who plays for KV Kortrijk (Belgium) to play as a striker. The Malaysian team chose a 4-1-4-1 formation to face the Vietnamese team using a 3-4-3 formation.

Cong Phuong shined. Photo: VFF

But with the pressure of the midfield of the Vietnamese team, including players who have just fought in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, the Malaysian players were forced back to their home field. Mr. Park was very clever when using Cong Phuong to replace Tien Linh as the highest player in the attack. The fast, strong, agile playing style on the wing, agile in the middle, and agile through the armpit of Quang Hai, Van Duc, and Cong Phuong completely paralyzed the opponent, and of course, goals were going to come.

It seems that the tuition fee paid by 7 defeats against the top teams in the continent has proven to be beneficial for Mr. Park and his team. Returning to the AFF Cup arena, watching Laos and Malaysia play against Vietnam was no different from the match we played against Japan and Saudi Arabia. In the second match against the toughest opponent in Group B, Hoang Duc, Tuan Anh controlled the midfield. We played fast and strong but did not lose energy thanks to knowing how to control the tempo of the match, expending energy at the right time to finish off the opponent and then continuing to play leisurely, avoiding injuries.

Championship candidate

The goals of Cong Phuong, Quang Hai and Hoang Duc were all technical plays. While Cong Phuong and Quang Hai scored after team-building moves, Hoang Duc's goal to make it 3-0 was an excellent individual breakthrough. Surrounded by 4 or 5 Malaysian players, Hoang Duc still had a neat shot into the far corner after several turns and dribbled past the opponent's defenders. The moves showed that the level of the Vietnamese players was much higher than that of their opponents.

The level of Vietnamese players is one level higher than that of other teams in the region. Photo: VFF.

Not only in terms of technique and tactics, but also in terms of physical strength, the Vietnamese team has made a lot of progress. Fighting and facing players from Oman, Australia, Japan, and Saudi Arabia, the physical strength of the Vietnamese players has improved significantly. Cong Phuong rushed straight into the opponent's penalty area, collided strongly with captain Zafuan without any injury. It has been a long time since people saw central midfielder Tuan Anh with enough strength to play 90 minutes with a very wide range of activities, worthy of being the best player of the match.

Mr. Tan Cheng-Hoe was “convinced” by the 5th consecutive loss to the Vietnamese team, even though he had replaced all 5 players along the line-up. But in fact, at this point, the level of Vietnamese players is one level higher than other teams in the region.

An Thanh