Is the Vietnamese national team ready to compete on the international stage?

However, the next stage will be extremely difficult as the opponents are top teams in the continent, teams of the same caliber as the UAE.Vietnam national teamjust experienced that (losing 0-3 in the 50th minute and then fighting back in the last 10 minutes to make it 2-3).

Reasons for losing the top spot in Group G.

Harsh weather conditions, unfamiliar pitch, biased refereeing in favor of the home team, and the lack of direct guidance from the head coach… these could be the specific reasons cited for the defeat and the loss of the top spot in Group G for the Vietnamese national team.

But almost everyone has to admit that the current UAE team is a high-class team, far superior to the team that played at My Dinh Stadium in the first leg (losing 0-1). What the Vietnamese national team has achieved recently is not enough, not sufficient, and in fact, many things need to be redone and renewed, as all opponents are constantly competing.

The situation where Minh Vương scored against UAE in the 90+3 minute.

It's true that the UAE's naturalized players have "upgraded" the quality of this West Asian team, but judging from the match, their domestic players are also very formidable.

Ali Hassan's opening goal in the 32nd minute, scored by sneaking behind the Vietnamese defender, is a prime example. The UAE team continuously attacked down the left wing, the area where star player Ali Mabkhoot operated, but unexpectedly delivered a brilliant pass into the open space on the right wing, crushing all of Vietnam's tenacious defensive efforts in the preceding 30 minutes.

Then came another situation where a delicate low ball slipped through the gap between the left-backs, allowing the striker to use his speed to sprint down the wing, forcing goalkeeper Tan Truong to commit a foul and concede a penalty (40th minute). The third goal was a textbook counter-attack, ending with a close-range header from another domestic player, Mahmoud Khamis (50th minute).

UAE players celebrate taking the lead. Photo: Vnexpress.net

In all three goals conceded, the main reasons were the constant and relentless pressure the Vietnamese national team had to endure from the home team, and the weakness in the midfield. It was very difficult for the midfield to "carry" the burden when they all originated as midfielders with an attacking and organizing style of play.

Xuan Truong has never been considered a true defensive midfielder, and Hoang Duc is rarely used in a defensive midfield role. Van Duc is more defensively minded, but people still expect him to push forward. Quang Hai is no stranger to the central midfield position, but in a transitional role rather than contributing to a second line of defense.

The Vietnamese players celebrate Tien Linh's goal.

That explains why, at the beginning of the second half, Xuan Truong and Van Duc were substituted, and a true defensive midfielder like Duc Huy (despite his recent poor form) was brought in. Not to mention, when a physically strong and determined midfielder like Minh Vuong came on, the Vietnamese national team's game changed significantly compared to the start.

The difficult first half for the Vietnamese national team certainly made everyone miss the outstanding defensive midfielder Hung Dung and hope for his speedy return. The improvements in the second half led many to question what would have happened if Minh Vuong had been in the starting lineup or earlier in Coach Park's plans against the high-class UAE team?

The problem of player form in the Vietnamese national team.

After three crucial matches in Group G of the qualifiers, the Vietnamese national team performed excellently in the two games against Indonesia and Malaysia, but in the final match against the UAE, everything came "back down to earth" as shortcomings in the coaching staff's tactics and the players' actual performance became apparent.

Cong Phuong came on as a substitute and created a game-changing moment at the beginning of the second half. Photo: vnexpress.net

His absolute trustPark Hang-seoFor some key players, the results aren't always positive, as was the case with Xuan Truong and Van Duc in matches against Malaysia and UAE, for example. Furthermore, stars like Quang Hai and Cong Phuong don't always shine, and when their teammates haven't had a chance to make their mark, it creates significant difficulties for the Vietnamese national team, especially when facing tough, superior opponents.

The third qualifying round will feature many difficult matches, so the Vietnamese national team will certainly have to consider strengthening its squad, most importantly the midfield. If Hung Dung is still unavailable, Coach Park Hang-seo will continue to face a "difficult headache" as players like Minh Vuong, Ly Cong Hoang Anh, Van Trien... haven't yet earned the trust of many. Players like Van Duc and Van Toan are highly regarded and trusted, but their contributions have been minimal. Coach Park Hang-seo always has the excellent Tien Linh, but the supporting players around him remain inconsistent and unreliable.

Currently, the fans are happy, the team is happy, even though things aren't perfect yet. The Vietnamese national team has reached new horizons through extraordinary efforts. But another horizon beckons ahead. To reach the wider world, the team needs to improve many things!