What does 'Star' Song Lam Nghe An contribute to the Vietnam team?

First of all, the list of 23 players announced before the match against Australia on January 27 will certainly have the full trio.SLNAincluding Nguyen Manh, Van Duc and Xuan Manh, which means Van Hoang is still temporarily out as before. But the ability to start in a match against an opponent with better physique probably belongs to Tan Truong rather than Nguyen Manh? Of course, in the next match at home against the Chinese national team, believe that Nguyen Manh will return to start with greater confidence and hope in an "all-in" match of coach Park Hang-seo and his team?

Xuan Manh in SLNA's recent training session. Photo: Duc Anh

In the defense, although Mr. Park Hang-seo is missing Ngoc Hai, he will trust the central defender trio Tien Dung-Thanh Chung-Huu Tuan if he really wants to "renew and remake" thoroughly as he said at the beginning of 2022. From that point of view, it is very possible that the wings that he has long usedPark Hang-seoThe usual lineup is Van Thanh-Hong Duy will be replaced by one of the two players mentioned above and that is when Xuan Manh has the opportunity to be on the right wing. In previous matches, Xuan Manh was on the field for a few minutes just to warm up. Now, if given the opportunity, hopefully Xuan Manh will create peace of mind and trust from the strict coach and "occupy" the starting position from now on.

The Vietnamese team held a tactical meeting right on the training ground. Photo: VFF

In midfield, Hung Dung will definitely return as he has been named captain of the team in the new era. Hung Dung may not play the whole match because he is saving his resources for the match against the Chinese national team. The player playing in the central midfield pair is Hoang Duc, although this player has just returned after being infected with Covid-19. The question is whether Van Duc will be arranged to play as a left midfielder, opposite Quang Hai or will Mr. Park push Van Duc to play as a striker next to Cong Phuong?

These two Nghe An players have coordinated well with each other in the past, which is the basis for Mr. Park to find the most suitable choice for the positions of both Van Duc and Cong Phuong. But in a situation where the opponent will play offensively to gain an advantage and earn a maximum of 3 points, the Vietnamese team will certainly be pushed down and the task set for Van Duc when defending is not easy.

When there is a chance to change state, Van Duc continues to be expected in lightning counter-attack situations. Everyone knows that in theory, but in reality it will be extremely difficult. When the opponent plays high ball, fast tempo, blocking is difficult, let alone organizing counter-attacks without being stopped or nullified from the beginning.

The Vietnamese national team is very focused on preparing for the upcoming match. Photo: Hai Hoang

It is also difficult to use the first leg result at My Dinh Stadium (0-1) to say that the opponent is not much better than Mr. Park's team? Remember, also at My Dinh Stadium, the Japanese team only narrowly won against the home team by only one goal, from an unstoppable acceleration by Minamino for Ito to finish cleanly. And that is enough, to have 3 points as capital. That is the way professional, high-class teams operate, without needing to spend too much effort on unnecessary things because most of them will return to their clubs to continue playing and minimize any impact from the process of focusing on playing for the national team.

From there, maybe at home, the Australian team will play with more enthusiasm, looking for more goals, but anyway, professionalism is inherent in each player and their coach, so everything is always programmed and predetermined. Unless the Vietnamese team has a rebellious, explosive match that makes everything go in a different direction, disadvantageous to the home team, there will be many things that go beyond the long-standing practice of the top teams in the continent.

Coach Park and his plans to renew the Vietnamese team. Photo archive

It is difficult to expect the Vietnamese team to have a 3-point match in a situation where the force is seriously disrupted. But it is not difficult to expect the players, including those from SLNA, to play with a strong will, not to give up and try to leave some mark in this match. Nguyen Manh, since returning to the starting position, has scored valuable points in the eyes of his teammates and the coaching staff. Van Duc still does not back down when the future is increasingly difficult. Xuan Manh has not left any mark because his time on the field is too little, so hope is still intact, there are still many opportunities to discover and promote his inherent abilities.

Phan Van Duc. Photo courtesy