From Que Ngoc Hai to the central axis, this is the key to Coach Huu Thang's success.

(Baonghean.vn) - The Vietnamese national team finished the group stage and proudly qualified for the 2016 AFF Cup. Three key players in three different positions – Ngoc Hai, Xuan Truong, and Cong Vinh – did not disappoint coach Huu Thang or the fans. Interestingly, two of these players were the ones who received the most criticism...

Unlike Cong Vinh, who was criticized for being past his prime, Que Ngoc Hai has repeatedly sent shivers down fans' spines with his seemingly careless plays, which have become instinctive for one of the most aggressive central defenders in the V.League today.

Even after an unnecessary tackle on an Avispa Fukuoka player during a friendly match in Can Tho, some fans demanded that Ngoc Hai be dropped from the national team, and experts expressed concerns about the potential for violent play within the team, along with a host of other questions. The problem is that this happened right before an important official tournament like the AFF Cup. And then, through three matches in the group stage, Que Ngoc Hai quietly proved himself.

Que Ngoc Hai did not disappoint coach Nguyen Huu Thang after winning all three matches in the group stage.

In the first match against Myanmar, facing the limited defensive capabilities of their midfield, Ngoc Hai and Dinh Luat failed to show the necessary chemistry, allowing the opponent to exploit the midfield and concede a goal from Aung Thu. However, the direct fault for this goal lay with Dinh Luat, not Ngoc Hai. Match statistics show that Myanmar's attack launched 11 shots, but most were taken from outside the penalty area. For the remainder of the match, Ngoc Hai and Dinh Luat did a fairly good job of shielding the ball in front of Nguyen Manh's goal.

Le Cong Vinh always steps up at the right moment to help the Vietnamese national team's attack break the deadlock.

Entering the match against Malaysia, the Vietnamese national team's defense began to play more tightly and cohesively, not allowing striker Ahmad Bakri and his teammates any opportunity to approach the home team's goal. Throughout the match, although they managed 5 shots on target, only 3 came from coordinated plays. With the solidity of the defense, especially the central defensive pair, Trong Hoang and Cong Vinh up front became the bright spots in Vietnam's narrow victory.

Facing Cambodia in the final group stage match, Que Ngoc Hai's task was to mark the superstar striker Chan Vathanaka, who had repeatedly tormented the defenses of Malaysia and Myanmar with his speed and wide range of movement. With Dinh Luat having to leave the field early, the responsibility fell even more heavily on the shoulders of the Nghe An-based center-back. And while Chan Vathanaka might be able to get past Van Thang, Trong Hoang, or Tien Dung, he couldn't stand up to Ngoc Hai.

For 80 minutes on the field, Ngoc Hai closely followed Cambodia's top scorer, not giving him a single chance to shoot. Furthermore, Nub Tola's spectacular long-range goal in the 50th minute was completely beyond the capabilities of the SLNA center-back and his partner, Tien Dung.

Furthermore, the 1993-born center-back possesses an extremely potent weapon that hasn't been fully utilized in the group stage: accurate long passes to forwards with agile movement like Cong Vinh and Van Toan, who can control the ball before shooting. This is the quickest way to approach the opponent's goal. It's one of the tactics that coach Nguyen Huu Thang hasn't required the Vietnamese national team to employ in the three matches played so far.

Before facing formidable opponents like Indonesia or possibly Thailand in the semi-finals, at least Que Ngoc Hai's tireless efforts and dedication helped the defense neutralize aerial situations, effectively supporting Van Hoan on the right wing and reducing pressure on his partner. In addition, with Xuan Truong's effective control and attacking play up front, and Cong Vinh's consistent form, the central axis of the Vietnamese national team is functioning smoothly based on these players.

That is the key that will help Coach Nguyen Huu Thang and his team go even further...

Quynh Trang