Indonesian media: Past and present support the away team

(Baonghean.vn) - Since the AFF Cup was organized into a home and away semi-final format, the Vietnamese national team has made it to this round four times, at the AFF Cup 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2014. Indonesian media was delighted to learn that the Vietnamese national team has never made it to the AFF Cup final after losing in the first leg of the semi-final. Even in the 2014 AFF Cup, despite beating Malaysia 2-1 away, the Vietnamese team was still eliminated.

It is expected that more than 20 Indonesian sports journalists will be present at My Dinh Stadium to report on the second leg of the 2016 AFF Cup semi-final. The tournament's professional statistics have been analyzed quite thoroughly. According to Indonesian journalists at the 2007 AFF Cup, the Vietnamese team lost 0-2 to Thailand at home and despite their efforts, they only managed a 0-0 draw in the second leg and were eliminated. At the 2008 AFF Cup, Vietnam was held to a 0-0 draw by Singapore at home and then lost 0-1 away, eliminating them.

At the 2010 AFF Cup, after losing 0-2 to Malaysia away and drawing 0-0 at home, Vietnam had to stop at the semi-finals. Four years later, in the 2014 AFF Cup, Vietnam even won 2-1 away against Malaysia but was still eliminated after losing 2-4 at My Dinh Stadium, causing a humiliating elimination. In that match, defender Dinh Tien Thanh scored an own goal, considered the culprit of the match. With a 2-1 victory in the first leg, Indonesian audiences were completely confident in the home team's ability to advance.

Hoang Thinh still has an open possibility of playing in the upcoming return match.

Indonesian experts analyzed in more detail the situation of this fateful confrontation. With the task of protecting the draw, coach Riedl's team will play much easier. Accordingly, Mr. Riedl will arrange a double-decker bus with a 1-8-0-2 formation, assigning a midfielder to closely follow Xuan Truong, placing the "veteran" Boaz Solossa with a sweeping style of play up front, and the attacking midfielders with physical strength and speed Salossa, Lilipaly, Pora... lurking behind.

With this style of play, the Vietnamese team will not dare to be careless, always having at least 3 or even 4 players on the home field. That means the number of attackers cannot overwhelm the away team. Coach Riedl even directed the attack on the left wing, not allowing Van Thanh to attack freely, to suddenly switch to the right wing, which is identified as the weak point of the Vietnamese team.

Indonesian experts give tips on how to 'kill' Xuan Truong

With both sides being familiar with each other, the Vietnamese team is not good at imposing the game against teams with a "sloppy" style of play, focusing on defense, Indonesian fans have reason to be happy. Compared to the requirement of having to win at all costs at Pakansari Stadium, this time coach Riedl has many options. Indonesian media and experts all agree that the best solution is to "kill" Xuan Truong, the remaining players of the Vietnamese attack will be hungry for the ball. They believe that if the first half ends with a 0-0 draw, it will not be Vietnam but the away team who will have the opportunity to open the score.

Indonesians believe that coach Huu Thang will still try his best to protect his favorite student Ngoc Hai and this is the position that needs to be attacked because the defender's mentality is not good. With Dinh Dong's slowness, unnecessary impatience and poor ability to handle the ball in a small area, Trong Hoang will not be in the starting lineup.

The ball has not yet rolled but the media of the two countries have already analyzed the Vietnam-Indonesia match in full and detail, promising an exciting match to take place at My Dinh Stadium.

AT