Que Ngoc Hai: Smiles or Tears?

As a team sport, every player's role is important, but when Malaysia needs a goal, both Lam "Tay" and the team's defense will play an extremely crucial role.

Ngoc Hai, leading the defense and wearing the captain's armband, is undoubtedly under considerable pressure. It's not Van Duc, Anh Duc, or any other player, but Ngoc Hai and Lam "Tay" who must demonstrate their mettle in crucial moments.

Leader on the field

So far, apart from Ngoc Hai, the Vietnamese defenders have had nearly 20 minutes of rest, while the rest have played all 7 matches, totaling 630 minutes on the field, and are clearly exhausted. The average playing time of our defenders is also almost one and a half times that of the Malaysian players, who will also have 8 matches in this AFF Cup.

When Van Quyet is not playing, the captain's armband belongs to the player from Nghe An. So when this central defender suffered an ankle injury, coach Park Hang-seo quickly invited the famous Korean doctor Choi Ju Young to fly to Vietnam urgently to help with his recovery.

"The Two Hais" (Quang Hai and Ngoc Hai) were the most important factors in the second leg of the final match. Photo: Internet

Mentally and spiritually, when the defense is stable, no coach wants to make a change, and even less so someone outside the coaching staff wearing the captain's armband. Understanding this, the young man from Nghe An did everything he could to be present in the final.

Besides the formidable Mohamadou Sumareh on the right flank, Malaysia also has the return of defender Syahmi bin Safari, so Que Ngoc Hai and Van Hau are expected to have a difficult match.

In the first leg, Mohamadou Sumareh was the player who caused Vietnam's left flank many problems with his fast-paced, physically strong style of play. Certainly, in the second leg, Malaysia's overlapping runs and crosses will constantly originate from this wing.

Under the guidance of coach Park Hang-seo, Que Ngoc Hai has undergone a remarkable transformation in terms of his performance. After 7 matches, the central defender has made 14 successful interceptions, 14 clearances, committed 7 fouls, and received only 1 yellow card.

A much better professional record than his predecessors Huu Thang and Huy Hoang, who played in the same position, achieved at the SEA Games and AFF Cup. Previously, when people talked about Que Ngoc Hai, they often remembered the defender from the SLNA academy who played with passion but often received unnecessary cards and was involved in excessive arguments with referees.

According to player Le Khac Liem (Vietnam national team), Ngoc Hai now tackles faster than before, due to improved situational awareness. When beaten by an opponent, the central defender doesn't rush to commit a foul but instead chases after the ball to regain possession. This is a significant improvement in tactical awareness that Ngoc Hai has gained thanks to training under his South Korean coach.

Not only did he control his emotions, but together with Dinh Trong, they took turns being present at hotspots, calming down hot-headed players, and settling clashes amicably with the referees. When necessary, Ngoc Hai also used subtle tactics to provoke opposing players into anger and receive cards.

He also kept Văn Toàn's number 9 jersey handy, as his younger teammate was injured and unable to play. When Tiến Linh scored, he and his teammates held up the jersey to encourage Văn Toàn, a gesture befitting an older teammate and worthy of being the team captain.

After the match against the Philippines, an overzealous Vietnamese fan climbed over the fence into My Dinh Stadium and was apprehended by security forces. As the team captain, he stepped forward to vouch for the fan and plead for his release. Truly, Que Ngoc Hai is the real leader of the national team today.

The decisive moment

It's no exaggeration to say that the "two Hais" (Quang Hai and Ngoc Hai) were the most important factors in the second leg of the final. One led the attack, the other the defense.

Que Ngoc Hai, the steel shield. Photo: Trung Kien

Among the four players from Nghe An province, Ngoc Hai and Van Duc are considered to be the most influential contributors at this year's AFF Cup. Both of them, and the entire team, are just 90 minutes away from the gold trophy, with many advantages in hand, and Ngoc Hai will be able to decide the outcome of the game himself.

Twice the young man from Dien Chau burst into tears on the field, and as the old saying goes, "three rounds, and the cat opens its eyes," this was the best time for the young man from Nghe An to smile.

What could be more joyful than lifting the World Cup trophy surrounded by teammates, wife, children, and loved ones at My Dinh Stadium? Go, Que Ngoc Hai!