The Vietnamese national team and the valuable lessons learned from the 2023 Asian Cup.
(Baonghean.vn) - The Iraqi team had won both of their previous matches (including an important 2-1 victory against Japan), so they fielded mostly reserve players in the match against the Vietnamese team.
Meanwhile, after missing the entire match against Indonesia, midfielder Hung Dung started the game, partnering with midfielders Tuan Anh and Thai Son to control the midfield. Van Khang made his first start on the left wing of the attack. Ngoc Bao also made his debut at left-sided center-back, Tuan Tai played in the center, and Viet Anh on the right.
That's true for both the teacher and the students.Vietnam national teamThey didn't enter the match with the mindset that it was a "procedure" since their team had already been officially eliminated. On the contrary, veteran key players like Hung Dung, Xuan Manh, Viet Anh, and Tuan Anh continued to prove their irreplaceable roles in the present and near future of the national team. Young talents like Tuan Tai, Van Khang, Minh Trong, and Thai Son also showed great fighting spirit to gradually prove themselves. The Vietnamese team did what needed to be done, making good use of set pieces to take the lead thanks to goals from Van Khang and Viet Anh. This was followed by a beautiful goal from Thanh Binh and Quang Hai from open play when their team was trailing and playing with only 10 men…
From the match against Iraq (as well as against Japan earlier), it's clear that Troussier's players always know how to brilliantly utilize set pieces to score four goals against two of the continent's top teams. This is a powerful weapon, one that not every team can do well. In particular, we must mention the roles of playmakers like Hung Dung, Tuan Tai, and Van Khang, and those who finished beautifully like Dinh Bac, Tuan Hai, and Viet Anh. Though late, Quang Hai's goal against Iraq proves that this star is not past his prime and needs to be "rekindled." The Vietnamese team's ability to confront strong teams and their willingness to control possession and develop their style of play are also noteworthy points at the 2023 Asian Cup.
But what needs to be said immediately is that the Vietnamese national team, in its process of renewal and rebuilding, is showing too much instability and many shortcomings that need to be promptly rectified, drawing profound and costly lessons for both coaches and players. First and foremost is the French coach Philippe Troussier, whose personality and methods show that he neither truly understands his players nor is as adept at reading the game as he used to be. The match against Indonesia specifically demonstrates this, especially his decision not to bring Hung Dung onto the field at all, failing to fully anticipate the opponent's transformation, which caught him by surprise and left him unable to respond effectively. He relies on young players, forcing them to play big despite their inexperience in all aspects, so situations like Van Khang's red card, Minh Trong's penalty, and Thai Son's overwhelming performance have harmed him, causing him to lose serious confidence in the eyes of football fans.
From the players' perspective, the 2023 Asian Cup is proving to be a costly lesson in every aspect. This tournament has revealed two sides to the Vietnamese players: their strengths and weaknesses coexist and cancel each other out. Quang Hai played very poorly against Indonesia but shone brightly against Iraq. Thanh Binh made a serious mistake against Indonesia but then scored against Iraq. Viet Anh shone against Japan and Iraq, but this same center-back made a blatant tackle that led to a penalty. Van Khang contributed an assist against Iraq, but he also played carelessly, receiving two yellow cards, putting his team at a disadvantage and ultimately losing. Dinh Bac was excellent against Japan but completely ineffective against Iraq… This shows that most Vietnamese players lack consistent form, fluctuating ups and downs, making it difficult to expect the team to go the distance and progress… And this is the goal the players must reach if they don't want to be eliminated in the near future.
The chronic problems of the V-League are now flourishing in the Vietnamese national team. This isn't a new phenomenon; the heavy yellow cards given to Duy Mạnh, Ngọc Hải, Văn Hậu... in the past are continuing with Thanh Bình, Văn Khang, Việt Anh, Minh Trọng… Of course, there are cases of innocent play like Thanh Bình and Minh Trọng, but there are also cases of excessive, blatant disregard for rules like Văn Khang and Việt Anh… All of this causes significant harm, not only to a single match or tournament, but also to a football system striving for progress, development, and international recognition.
Clearly, the recent matches against Iraq alone have taught Vietnamese football many painful lessons, especially the last-minute defeat, the lack of control in play with the consequences of the V-League, the mistakes of one position that caused the whole team to falter, the unbelievable number of errors in the defense, and the abundance of willpower but limited strength and ability…
With the second round of World Cup qualifiers between now and the two legs against Indonesia, it remains to be seen whether Coach Troussier and his team will quickly learn from these unforgettable lessons. It will be very difficult if the coach remains strong-willed, irritable, and fails to demonstrate the strength of the technical area to amplify the team's collective power as expected. It will also be difficult if his players continue to play inconsistently, shining brightly only to make mistakes and appear lackluster, as everyone else can see.
