U23 Vietnam needs to overcome itself

Playing at home, in front of a large crowd, familiar with the field, the weather and maybe some favor from the match schedule, from the organizers, the referees... as is the tradition of lowland football, is always a great advantage for the home team. And from those great advantages, if you know how to fully promote the inherent strength and the above factors, victory is always within reach. But in reality, not everything always goes smoothly because the round ball always contains unpredictable situations and outcomes.

U23 Vietnam.

The Vietnam national team at the 1998 Tiger Cup won 3-0 against arch-rival Thailand in the semi-finals to reach the finals, and the U23 Vietnam team at the 2003 SEA Games also achieved similar results after brilliant performances by Van Quyen, Quoc Vuong... are specific and clear examples. At the 31st SEA Games, the U23 Vietnam team will play at home and will have significant advantages if they can best promote their abilities and strengths, remove the psychological pressure of defending the gold medal won more than 2 years ago to play freely, confidently, and spontaneously against all opponents.

But clearly, looking at recent history and current reality, many people are showing concern and worry forU23 Vietnamat SEA Games 31 is not without basis. For example, the current U23 generation does not have many bright talents like Hong Son, Huynh Duc, Van Sy Hung..., and cannot be compared to Van Quyen, Cong Vinh or most recently Quang Hai, Van Hau, Cong Phuong... in regional and continental youth playgrounds.

U23 participating in SEA Games 30.

Meanwhile, all of Mr. Park Hang-seo's moves are no longer as "unique" as they were a few years ago, making opponents surprised, annoyed and helpless. No one dares to say that under the great pressure of winning the throne, of the great expectations from the home audience, this U23 generation will do better than their seniors in the Tiger Cup 1998, or the SEA Games 2003 when they reached the final but were helpless and had to give up the throne to the Singaporeans and the Thais?

This U23 generation is even more difficult than defending the only SEA Games gold medal achieved when Vietnamese football in the past 4 years has always been at the top of the region in the most successful cycle but is facing many significant challenges. Those are the seniors in the Vietnam National Team while reaching the 3rd qualifying round of the World Cup, winning resoundingly against their neighbor China, drawing with the top team in the continent Japan on away field but losing the second king title won at the AFF Cup 2021 to rival Thailand. Still under the hand of strategist Park Hang-seo, will U23 Vietnam be able to extend the successful cycle that has existed or will it be the place to prove the end of that cycle, with not being able to defend the SEA Games gold medal at home, is something no one dares to affirm? Even Mr. Park Hang-seo does not dare to boldly declare anything specific related to this story?

That is while U23 Vietnam did not inspire much confidence in the U23 Asian qualifying round, in the friendly tournaments before the recent SEA Games. Meanwhile, top opponents such as U23 Indonesia and U23 Thailand showed the strength of both teachers and students through recent tournaments. The fact that the U23 Indonesia team is willing to accept temporary defeat to serve the goal of rubbing and maturing with the highest goal at the SEA Games is something everyone knows and makes all opponents afraid, including the host U23 Vietnam, especially coach Park Hang-seo before the outstanding talent of his compatriot Shin Tae-yong. And when the Thai people are focused and dedicated to the SEA Games, will not only U23 Vietnam but any team in the region have to "look back at themselves" before setting a certain goal, especially the gold medal in men's football?

All of these things will create a lot of pressure for Mr. Park Hang-seo and his team, and if there are no timely and appropriate measures to relieve and remove the psychological burden, everything will be out of control. Therefore, before thinking about overcoming all opponents, Mr. Park Hang-seo and his team must have enough courage and confidence to overcome themselves first, and that is the most difficult and urgent thing.

The media, fans, families... should not create unnecessary pressure for U23 Vietnam before, during and after this important competition. We must create a comfortable, trusting mentality, resonate strength together, overcome difficulties together, release all obstacles and inertia, especially in the nerve-wracking, decisive moments. So that the coach as well as those in charge always have a clear mind, light feet, sublime and brilliant handling, do the best that needs to be done, can be done at this time, at that time, and do not have any other worries or concerns...