Important talk with Vietnam team and the mark of VFF President

A conversation between two men passionate about domestic football

That conversation was later revealed to have taken place at the time when the Vietnamese team was planning to prepare for the AFF Cup 2024, which was before coach Kim Sang-sik's team went to train in South Korea in mid-November, lasting until early December 2024.

Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan on the podium presenting awards to the champion and runner-up teams of the AFF Cup

Photo: Ngoc Linh

Mr. Tuan awarded the prize to Dinh Trieu.

VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan visited Xuan Son. He had a passionate exchange with coach Kim Sang-sik before the preparation phase for the AFF Cup 2024.

More than 2 months ago, many people found it strange that the Vietnamese team did not participate in the matches during the FIFA Days in November 2024. At that time, this was in the plan of VFF and Coach Kim Sang-sik. Right before the Vietnamese team began the final days towards the Asian Football Championship, Chairman of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Tran Quoc Tuan had a meeting with Coach Kim Sang-sik, Mr. Tuan expressed that it was time for the Vietnamese team to have a different plan, different from the rest of regional football.

The Vietnamese team will temporarily "sacrifice" the final FIFA Days schedule of 2024, instead of a training trip to Korea, with lighter, more suitable opponents. "Suitable" here means that the opponent is not too strong, because if the opponent is too strong, it can make the team's preparation counterproductive. Too heavy losses to too strong opponents can make the players' spirit go down, in the context of the AFF Cup is right in front of them.

Coach Kim Sang-sik: 'The thing I regret the most is not being able to wear the conical hat to celebrate with Xuan Son'

In addition, the head of VFF emphasized to the Korean coach that Vietnamese football is not really professionalized at a high level like Japanese and Korean football, Vietnamese players have their own characteristics. Therefore, the preparation for the Vietnamese team before the AFF Cup must also be specific, based on the criteria of ensuring good physical condition for the whole team before the official tournament.

The AFF Gold Cup did not come naturally to the Vietnamese team.

That is also the requirement from VFF in general and VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan in particular, close to the criteria for choosing a coach suitable for Vietnamese football, suitable for Vietnamese culture, which was agreed upon after Coach Troussier. The suitability here is that the coach must understand what his players are like, how they are different from other football backgrounds in the world, and at the same time must understand what his students need, how physically and mentally they can "bear the load"? - From there, the coach will come up with the best training method.

From overall strategy to specific steps for the Vietnam team

Along with the requirements set for coach Kim Sang-sik, before the team went to Korea for training, VFF also directed VPF to adjust the schedule of the V-League, so that the Vietnamese team would have the most favorable conditions when participating in the AFF Cup, so that the players' peak performance would fall right on the days of the AFF Cup.

Of course, top-level sports cannot be separated from the element of luck. The Vietnamese team also had some luck during the AFF Cup. However, if there had not been an adjustment in the competition schedule, perhaps the performance of most Vietnamese players in this year's tournament would not have been so good.

Runner-up Thailand

The sweetest victory is the victory right on the field of the strongest team in Thailand.

Former coach of U.23 Vietnam, Mr. Hoang Anh Tuan commented: "The performance of Vietnamese players at the AFF Cup is mostly at a high level. Xuan Son in particular has been in the best form since the beginning of the season until now, when participating in the AFF Cup. If Xuan Son had worn the Vietnamese national team jersey at another stage, this player might not have been in the best form as he is now. What happened at the AFF Cup is mostly within the team's calculations."

There is one detail that cannot be ignored, the Vietnamese team at this year's AFF Cup is more courageous than ever. Former VFF Vice President of Professional Affairs Duong Vu Lam commented: "In the final matches alone, the Vietnamese players are more courageous than the Thai players, the theoretical football foundation that is the best in Southeast Asia. The Vietnamese team is in a difficult position but is not confused. On the contrary, we also push the opponent into a state of psychological confusion and make mistakes. Thailand's aggressive play proves that they are confused, and when the opponent plays aggressively, they fall into the trap of the Vietnamese team."

These are things that have been prepared. VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan once shared with coach Kim Sang-sik and the Vietnamese team that, in addition to the mandatory professional factor, the players must be fully prepared to enter the intellectual and physical battles at the AFF Cup. That preparation ensures three basic factors: courage, intelligence in handling situations and the ability to control behavior on the field, regardless of the impact from surrounding factors and not allowing any of their attitudes to affect the team's situation.

The Vietnamese players did it, Coach Kim Sang-sik did it. Of course, after the success, it is easy to praise the Vietnamese team and those involved in the team. However, it is certain that all the things we have just seen Coach Kim Sang-sik's team do at the AFF Cup, did not come naturally. These things come from a long preparation process, based on the consistent direction of domestic football managers.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cuoc-noi-chuyen-quan-trong-voi-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-va-dau-an-cua-chu-cich-vff-185250108161232991.htm