Jakarta –
Vietnam will be one of the opponents Indonesian National team in the group phase 2023 Asian Cup. This team is in a transition period after the change of coach.
Just like Indonesia, the upcoming Asian Cup will be the 5th edition for Vietnam. As a Southeast Asian country, Vietnam is clearly not the favorite team in this event.
In fact, the Golden Star Warriors have enjoyed times of glory in recent years. While still being coached by Park Hang-seo, Vietnam made a surprise on the Asian stage.
Most phenomenally, Park Hang-seo led Vietnam U-23 to become runner-up in the 2018 U-23 Asian Cup. Then he led Vietnam to reach the semifinals of the 2018 Asian Games football in Indonesia.
Meanwhile in the Asian Cup, Vietnam also achieved decent results in the 2019 edition. He led his team to reach the quarter-finals, until they were finally defeated by Japan 0-1.
In Park Hang-seo’s hands, Vietnam emerged as a surprise team. But this glory did not last long, Park Hang-seo chose not to continue when his contract expired on January 31 2023.
Philippe Troussier later became his successor. Interestingly, Philippe Troussier is a former Japanese coach at the 2000 Asian Cup and 2002 World Cup.
Together with Philippe Troussier, Japan won the 2000 Asian Cup and advanced to the Round of 16 of the 2002 World Cup. You could say that Philippe Troussier’s time as coach was the beginning of Japan’s emergence as an Asian giant who often caused problems for Latin American and European teams.
More or less Philippe Troussier already understands the culture and style of playing Japanese football, one of the opponents Vietnam in the group phase of the upcoming Asian Cup. With that capital, at least Vietnam can enliven the Group D competition a little.
Realistically speaking, Vietnam is also more superior than Indonesia. Vietnam is the favorite to be ranked third in Group D to win a ticket to the preliminary round as one of the best teams.
Moreover, this team also has more experience in advancing from the group phase than Indonesia. Vietnam has reached the preliminary round of the Asian Cup at least twice, in the 2007 and 2019 editions.
Looking at their track record, Vietnam has faced Iraq and Japan twice in the Asian Cup. They also lost twice to these two teams, namely with a score of 1-4 and 0-1 to Japan and lost 0-2 and 2-3 to Iraq.
In their last three matches in the Asian Cup, Vietnam has only lost once. Incidentally, the last team to win over Vietnam was Japan in the 2019 Asian Cup.
However, it was not easy for the Vietnam players to carry out Philippe Troussier’s instructions. Because they have been architected by Park Hang-seo for years, who has a very different background from Philippe Troussier.
There are players who are predicted to emerge as rising stars in 2023 Asian Cup from the stronghold Vietnam is Pham Tuan Hai. The Hanoi FC striker was also part of Vietnam’s squad at the 2019 Asian Cup.
Watch the video “Warm Welcome to the Indonesian National Team in Qatar Ahead of the Asian Cup”
(mro/there)
2024-01-09 23:00:05
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