Round 13 V.League 2019: Beware of 'FIFA virus'

In less than 2 weeks, Vietnamese players had to travel to Buriram (Thailand) to play 2 matches at King's Cup 2019. From Bangkok airport (Thailand), they were separated from the group to join the team on time, but the long journey and many stages will affect the physical strength of the players. That is also an opportunity for Saigon, SLNA, the teams that will face Hanoi, HAGL - who have many players participating in King's Cup.

Hanoi in trouble

Having just returned to Vietnam on June 9, many players did not have time to rest and had to rush into training with their clubs to prepare for round 13 of V.League 2019. Accordingly, players of Hanoi FC, Quang Nam and Binh Duong have to brace themselves with a tight match schedule. They will take the field on June 13, because Hanoi FC and Binh Duong will have to compete in the AFC Cup 2019 in the middle of next week.

Home midfielder Quang Hai (Hanoi) is not in good form. Photo: Zing

At the King's Cup 2019, coach Park Hang-seo used 17 players, only 6 players did not play a single minute. They were goalkeeper Tran Nguyen Manh (SLNA) and Nguyen Van Toan (Hai Phong), players Tan Sinh (Quang Nam), Thanh Chung (Hanoi FC), Van Thanh (HAGL), Duc Chinh (SHB Da Nang).

Normally, at Hang Day Stadium, the away team Saigon would have a hard time against the “home king” Hanoi. Although last season, “when needed”, Hanoi still suffered defeats against Saigon at times considered sensitive in the V.League. This season, when leaving Thong Nhat Stadium, Saigon players only won 1 but lost 4, conceded 10 goals but only scored 5.

But what will coach Thanh Cong do when the names Quang Hai, Hung Dung, Duc Huy, Duy Manh, Van Hau are quite exhausted when concentrating with the team, while central defender Dinh Trong is injured. This is the time when the most dangerous player on the away team, Pedro Paulo, has the opportunity to increase the number of goals to 7. Dominique Da Sylva is 1 of 4 players with 5 assists, so it is considered that the away team has met the necessary conditions for victory.

In the past seasons, Saigon has always been Hanoi’s nemesis. This time, if the “FIFA virus” appears and causes Coach Chu Dinh Nghiem to suffer, no one will be surprised.

According to the latest “law”, if players are injured during international duty, their clubs will be compensated by FIFA (applied from September 2012 to October 2013). Depending on the income of each player at the club, FIFA will convert it into money (also setting the maximum compensation level at 8.75 million USD/1 year, excluding bonuses). This way of doing things by FIFA is very reasonable in some aspects. However, that does not mean that coaches are always ready to let their students play for the national team. Many coaches are afraid that key players will be injured while playing for the national team (in the football world, it is called the “FIFA Virus”).

SLNA stops the decline

At Vinh Stadium, SLNA players meet HAGL, as usual this will be an open match. It must be said that the Nghe An team will face many difficulties when facing teams with low defense, with many players in front of the goal like Nam Dinh.

On the contrary, when the opponent accepts to play an open game, it is also the time for coach Duc Thang's students to have a chance to perform. Since taking over as head coach of HAGL Club, Lee Tae Hoon has adjusted the natural attacking style of "Mr. Duc's children", but after all, the Highlands team still tends to play an attacking style in the V.League.

Van Toan is the name that goalkeeper Nguyen Manh and his teammates need to pay special attention to. Photo: NLĐ

SLNA is having a bad streak, they have 5 draws, 1 loss and this is a good opportunity for them to do something. Vinh Stadium audience will witnessAn interesting match when former players Van Duc and Xuan Manh of the Nghe An team will face their old teammates.

It is actually difficult to hope that Van Duc will quickly integrate with his teammates after a long period of injury.(recently injured again during training), but taking advantage of the tired legs of Van Toan, Tuan Anh, Hong Duy, Minh Vuong is something that SLNA's coaching board needs to consider. In fact, SLNA's defense has never been afraid of HAGL's style of play, regardless of whether it is away or home.

SLNA is unbeaten at home, with 3 wins and 2 draws and only conceded 1 goal. Meanwhile, leaving the Highlands, HAGL has conceded 8 goals, which shows that the defense of the mountain town team is not impenetrable. If they do a good job of mental work for Olaha, the player who will most likely leave Vinh Stadium at the end of the season, there is a more than 50% chance that the Nghe An team will score.