Vietnam U19 fears UAE U19 might be secretly colluding with Iraq.
Coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his players are not worried about the technical aspects, but their biggest concern is the fairness of the age difference with their opponents. To put it bluntly, they wonder if Iraq and some other teams are cheating on age requirements? Above all, they are concerned about whether the UAE U19 team is colluding with the Iraq U19 team to achieve better results.
After what happened in the 1-1 draw against UAE, it's clear that to play fairly, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan's team fears no opponent. However, they only fear biased refereeing, age fraud, and negative alliances like "rescuing second-placed players" among allied teams.
Meanwhile, despite their impressive performance, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan's team is still not guaranteed a place in the quarterfinals; in fact, the door could slam shut at any moment.
According to AFC regulations, if two teams are tied on points, the head-to-head record will be used as the deciding factor. If the head-to-head record is also tied, the following criteria will be considered in order: goal difference in the group stage, total number of goals scored, and then a draw. Specifically, if Vietnam U19 wins or draws, they will advance to the quarterfinals.
 |
| Vietnam U19 only needs a draw against Iraq U19 to advance to the next round. |
If Vietnam U19 loses to Iraq U19 0-1 and UAE U19 wins 2-1, North Korea U19 will be drawn against UAE U19. If Vietnam U19 loses to Iraq U19 by at least one goal and scores a goal, and UAE U19 wins against North Korea by one goal and scores fewer than two goals, Vietnam U19 will advance to the quarterfinals. However, if we lose to Iraq U19 by two goals or more, and UAE U19 wins against North Korea, Vietnam U19 will be eliminated.
To put it simply, the most terrifying scenario is this: if the UAE U19 team beats North Korea U19, and we lose to Iraq by two goals, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan's team will be sent home. Who can guarantee that the "big spenders" UAE won't secretly collude with Iraq to ensure they play their hearts out against Vietnam U19, achieving the goal that the UAE is aiming for?
We just have to overcome the difficulties and wait... for "fate"!
Asian football, still a low-lying area on the world football map, especially youth leagues which receive little attention, is plagued by negative practices, most notably age fraud driven by a desire for achievements.
Currently, the U19 delegation in Bahrain representing the VFF lacks a prominent figure who can convey the necessary messages and feedback for the Vietnamese U19 team to the organizing committee when needed.
 |
| Coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his team went shopping at the mall yesterday afternoon. |
Professional football is like that; it would be a real shame if the incredibly difficult journey that Coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his team have conquered were "doused with cold water" by non-professional factors.
Coach Hoang Anh Tuan said he hopes for fairness and that there will be no underhanded dealings. At this point, the coaching staff can only encourage the players to maintain their true abilities. And, the whole team still believes in luck, jokingly saying, as many players said, that it still depends on "the will of God."
This morning, coach Hoang Anh Tuan gathered several players for a closed-door meeting. The main purpose was to reassess potential disadvantages and, based on that, develop various playing styles, formations, and personnel solutions.
In the afternoon, the whole team will train. Before that, yesterday afternoon, October 18th, the players went shopping at a mall. This was a necessary step after two matches that had drained a lot of energy and mental strength from the young players.
According to Thethaovanhoa
