WARNING FROM THAILAND
"Standing in front of tens of thousands of spectators at Rajamangala Stadium, the Thai players understand what they have to fight for," coach Masatada Ishii affirmed at the pre-match press conference. This is a serious warning from Mr. Ishii, as Thailand is ready to become a "beast" in a corner. How strong is the Golden Temple team when it is hurt? The entire history of the AFF Cup with 7 championships and 16 years of undefeated at home is the answer. The Vietnamese team has taken a step towards glory by winning the first leg, but the remaining steps will be very difficult. Winning the AFF Cup right on Thai soil is something that few teams can do.
Vietnam team is capable of reaching the throne
However, such difficulties will also help the victory of the Vietnamese team become sweeter, if coach Kim Sang-sik and his team overcome the Rajamangala challenge tonight. The strategy for the second leg has been outlined by Mr. Kim, after studying the previous 90-minute video at Viet Tri Stadium. Tight defense, keeping a close distance to cover and prevent the opponent from passing the ball short, pressing fiercely in the midfield, counterattacking quickly with passes aimed at Xuan Son... It is not difficult to imagine the way the Vietnamese team plays. 8 confrontations in just the past 7 years are enough for us to understand Thailand and the opponent also knows by heart the way Vietnam plays.
Vietnam team completes training session, ready to win the cup
Vietnam team practices at Rajamangala Stadium on January 4.
In the first leg, the Vietnamese team did not overwhelm Thailand, but coach Kim Sang-sik's students still won thanks to their patience (to exploit the opponent's mistakes) and their courage (to stand firm under pressure). Those are human qualities. Tonight's final will not depend on dry tactics, but on the players' reason, experience and mental endurance. Coach Kim Sang-sik cannot control everything, but can only encourage and motivate the Vietnamese team to step into the "fire pan" of Rajamangala with a calm mind.
Q FIGHT, WIN
The advantage of leading by 1 goal in the first leg will help the Vietnamese team have the right to choose their approach; but with Thailand, it is different, when attacking is the only option. The initiative will help Mr. Kim's students have a psychological advantage.
A solid defensive wall will be erected at Rajamangala tonight. At the AFF Cup 2024, the Vietnamese team has never really had to defend themselves before meeting Thailand. On the contrary, only Vietnam has given the Thais a difficult problem to solve.
Thailand national team coach determined to find a solution to control Xuan Son
How strong can the Thai team attack? The last 20 minutes at Viet Tri Stadium are a "draft" predicting the scenario of today's return match. Coach Ishii's students will press, pass the ball smoothly and intensively in the middle. If they can maintain the midfield, the Vietnamese team will have to withstand pressure from above, when the opponent also has diverse wing attacks. Suphanat Muenta will return, alongside Patrick Gustavsson, Ekanit Panya, Supachok Sarachat... to form an extremely strong attack for Thailand.
Commentator Quang Huy commented: "Thailand will put pressure, attack very strongly and diversely, but I believe that coach Kim Sang-sik's students are strong enough to stand firm, with a strengthened mental foundation. On the contrary, besides defense, the Vietnamese team also needs an attacking strategy. Xuan Son will be closely marked by the opponent, even using tricks. With his inherent class, Xuan Son will have a smart way of moving, trying to be a wall to support his teammates. His teammates must be very subtle to understand Xuan Son's way of playing in order to move in harmony.
I expect a lot from Vi Hao and Ngoc Quang, because they are the first line of defense for Vietnam to prevent the opponent from developing the ball. Maybe Mr. Kim will still use this duo to break the opponent's strength in the first half; in the second half, there will be new factors in the attack line like Tuan Hai. The striker born in 1998 has just returned from injury, and with someone like Mr. Kim, Tuan Hai will have a role in the final. With the main striker Xuan Son, the Vietnam attack line will have many valuable attacking ideas, but we need backup plans."
A draw is enough to win the championship, but any draw is a problem. When glory is both near and far, let's play with the spirit of a warrior so that no matter how the match ends, we have no regrets.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chung-ket-luot-ve-aff-cup-2024-thai-lan-viet-nam-quyet-dau-gianh-lai-ngai-vang-185250104232534773.htm
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