Vietnam U23 and the story of the empty glass.

In this crucial stage of their quest for the SEA Games gold medal, coach Toshiya Miura and his team desperately need the unwavering support of their fans.

It's like a half-empty glass of water; an optimist would say: "The glass is still half full." A pessimist would lament: "The glass is completely empty." Since the start of the men's football tournament at the 28th SEA Games, two opposing opinions have existed within the Vietnamese U23 team. One half believes Coach Miura is disappointing, that his pragmatic philosophy has created a team that plays aggressively, rationally, and without artistry. The other half, however, denies this, maintaining their absolute trust in Coach Miura, believing that his philosophy is the most suitable for the current level of the Vietnamese U23 players.

The Vietnam U23 team displayed a rather impressive performance in the SEA Games group stage, partly thanks to the tremendous motivation from their fans. Photo: Duc Dong.

It was indeed a protracted debate. The crisis of faith among Vietnamese football fans reached its peak after the humiliating defeat of the Vietnam U23 team in the group stage of the 27th SEA Games (eliminated in the group stage). Too many failures had hardened the hearts of the fans, turning them into a state of "love but no longer trust." Yet, many fans persevered, accompanying the team through each tournament. They used the failure at the 27th SEA Games as a benchmark to test the players' will to rise above and surpass themselves. And above all, their love did not stem from superficiality, so it remained steadfast.

Any assessment of Coach Miura's success or failure at this point is still not entirely convincing. However, one thing is certain: losing a match against Thailand in the group stage is not a disaster. We once won 3-1 against U23 Malaysia in the group stage of the 25th SEA Games (2009) only to lose to them 0-1 in the final. We also lost 0-2 to Thailand in the group stage of the 2008 AFF Cup, only to win the championship after defeating them 3-2 on aggregate over two legs in the final. We have experienced both sweetness and bitterness. That is the voice of history.

Losing at this point is also necessary to keep the players, the media, and the fans grounded. That doesn't mean we should be complacent about defeat. What's important after a loss is what lessons we learn, and even how that loss can be beneficial. "Through each match against Thailand, we learn many valuable lessons. If we meet them again in the final, we will make adjustments, but I can't reveal them at this time," Coach Miura affirmed after the final match in Group B yesterday, June 10th.

Coach Miura believes he has a way to "deal with" Thailand if the two teams meet again. Photo: Duc Dong.

The advantages were all very clear. Coach Miura proactively kept key players on the bench to rest them, both to avoid injuries and to eliminate the risk of suspension. Most importantly, it avoided revealing his "strategy." "Strategy" here can be understood as how he uses key players, not necessarily as a general tactic, as Coach Miura affirmed that he always has a specific approach for each opponent; each match is a unique "tactical strategy," not a general one.

A few days before the match against Thailand, a debate erupted on online forums about which semi-final opponent would be tougher for the Vietnam U23 team. Some argued it was Myanmar U23 – a team currently playing very well and a "dark horse" of this year's tournament. Others insisted that Singapore U23 was the most formidable opponent due to home advantage and clearly favored referees. But ultimately, every opponent has its own strengths and dangers. Therefore, to realize the dream of winning the SEA Games gold medal, we cannot afford to be afraid of any opponent. Facing Myanmar U23 might bring unexpected advantages.

Vietnam U23 recently drew against Myanmar U23 in a friendly match despite being in a winning position, but this rematch will feature a very different Myanmar U23 team. Photo: HD.

Nevertheless, it must be affirmed that the victory of the Thai U23 team further strengthens the argument that Thailand is no longer confined to the "small pond" of Southeast Asia. They possess the calm demeanor of the Japanese, the cunningness of the Australians when necessary, and are increasingly stronger in one-on-one duels, like teams from West Asia. While all comparisons are flawed, there are still many reasons to believe that Thai football, while not yet at the continental level, is still far superior to the rest of Southeast Asia.

However, the nature of knockout matches cannot be ignored. The success or failure of an entire effort is decided in just 90 minutes. In those matches, the winner is sometimes not the stronger team, but the one who makes more sensible decisions, or even has more luck than their opponent. That's where skill level has the least weight, while form reigns supreme. Thailand is very strong, but if there's a rematch, there's no guarantee they'll win as easily as they did in the previous match.

The debate between the two factions of fans will continue, with some still looking at the half-empty cup to judge, but it cannot be denied that Coach Miura and his team are on the right track. They are still doing everything they can to realize the fans' dream of a SEA Games gold medal in football. And what they need most right now is trust and support during this crucial stage of their quest to reach the top.

According to VNE