Looking back at the 2024 ASEAN Cup group stage
After 14 days of competition, the group stage of ASEAN Cup 2024 has ended with 4 tickets to the next round for Thailand, Singapore (Group A), Vietnam and Philippines (Group B).
Although some teams did not have the strongest squad, the matches were still quite attractive with drama and surprises. It was possible to see the significant progress of the Laos team, the East Timor team and especially the Philippines team, the team that entered the semi-finals as the second team in Group A.
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However, the group stageASEAN Cup 2024The number of goals scored is only equivalent to the previous tournaments. After 20 matches, a total of 70 goals were scored (an average of 3.5 goals/match). Meanwhile, the number of goals scored in the group stage of the ASEAN Cup 2018, 2020 and 2022 were 65 (3.25 goals/match), 70 (3.5 goals/match) and 79 (3.95 goals/match) respectively.
Following the confrontations at the ASEAN Cup 2024, most experts and fans were satisfied with the players' fighting spirit. In general, the moves to destroy the opponent did not appear often, even in important matches with "life and death" significance.
Therefore, the referees rarely have to use penalty cards. The Indonesian team is the only representative to have a player sent off, with 2 cases of midfielder Marselino Ferdinan and defender Muhammad Ferarri. Don't forget, ASEAN Cup 2024 has the accompaniment of VAR technology.
However, if the tournament is still held at a time that does not coincide with "FIFA Day", the upcoming ASEAN Cup will continue to lack top stars, players from European and regional clubs, because at this time, the national championships of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia are still competing.
If the ASEAN Cup is to develop further, the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) must carry out a revolution in the timing and format of the tournament. It is time for AFF officials to sit down and discuss with each other for the common development of the top tournament in Southeast Asia./.