Vietnam team to Myanmar: "Setting a trap" or "taking a gun to hunt"?

History is on Vietnam's side

If we only count the AFF Cup (formerly Tiger Cup), we have faced Myanmar 5 times and the result is that Vietnam won 4 and only drew 1 match. We even “destroyed” Myanmar: 7-1. That match was in the AFF Cup 2010, the tournament that Vietnam participated in as the defending champion.

Mr. Park was asked: "Should we attack first or play defensive counter-attack?". Photo: Trung Kien

The last time they met was two years ago, which was also the opening match of the two teams at the AFF Cup 2016. Vietnam defeated Myanmar 2-1. Van Quyet (24') and Cong Vinh (80') scored for Vietnam. Myanmar's only goal was scored by young player Aung Thu in the 73rd minute.

In fact, the host Myanmar is in a very difficult position. They need 3 points before going to Malaysia to play the last match of the group stage, but their opponent is the Vietnam National Team, the only team that has not conceded a goal in the AFF Cup 2018.

To win, Myanmar must choose an attacking strategy, especially when they receive the support of the home crowd but the defense is very vulnerable to the opponent. In both matches against Cambodia and Laos, they played poorly in the first half, even conceding the first goal.

Antoine Hey's team, in addition to starting the game quite slowly, did not have many attacking options. The German coach's students often played in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Bo Bo Hlaing (6) playing in the anchor position. When this young midfielder advanced to attack, the Myanmar formation would change to 4-5-1, or even 4-4-2. There were always 3 or 4 Myanmar players hovering around goalkeeper Van Lam's goal, waiting for crosses from the wings.

The home team’s biggest star is Aung Thu (10), currently the best Southeast Asian player in the Thai professional championship. His achievements of scoring 11 goals and contributing 8 assists in 30 matches in the Thai League 2018 partly show how great the “Myanmar Messi” is.

Right to choose playing style

Meanwhile, Mr. Park is showing himself to be a veteran coach, with surprising attacks. Up to this point, in the two opening matches, the Vietnam team has shown two contrasting appearances. If in the first match against host Laos, Mr. Park applied an imposing attacking strategy, in the match against Malaysia, the Korean coach surprisingly played football in a way that "lulled" the opponent. With each style of play, he has a different way of arranging the team.

The two teachers shook hands and fought, determined to win all 3 points. Photo: Internet

Many coaches in this match believe that the defensive-counterattacking strategy is considered the best choice for the Vietnamese team in tonight's match. However, Mr. Park has often deviated from that way of thinking, creating surprises for the opponent.

If he wants to attack first but still defend tightly, he just needs to increase the steel in the central midfield position, by returning Quang Hai to his favorite left wing position, bringing Hung Dung onto the field. This midfielder with good physique and stamina of the Hanoi team will follow Aung Thu closely and when needed, will drop low to defend high balls like a central defender, two-in-one.

If they conceded an early goal, the fate of the match would be decided because Vietnam's defense was much more solid than Cambodia's and Laos'. In the Vietnam team, there are players who can transform the game from defense to counterattack very well, such as Xuan Truong, Quang Hai or even Trong Hoang. So Myanmar could easily lose more because of the tricks that Van Duc and Cong Phuong have practiced very carefully.

For coach Park Hang-Seo, whether he wants to "set traps" or "go hunting", he has students who can meet the requirements. With a match with many "lines of war", even losing the match is not the end of the story, Vietnamese fans want to witness an open match on Thuwunna field.