Weaknesses of Vietnam team, strengths of Thailand
The Vietnamese team had successfully prevented throw-ins against Indonesia in the group stage. At that time, we were fully alert against the team that possessed the strongest and most dangerous throw-in player in Southeast Asia: Pratama Arhan. At that time, in the Vietnamese team, goalkeeper Nguyen Filip had a great advantage in stature (1.92 m tall), and was very good at playing high balls.
However, against Singapore, coach Kim Sang-sik's team almost lost from throw-in situations like this in both semi-final matches. In fact, the Vietnamese team conceded a goal after a throw-in situation by Singapore in the second leg of the semi-final (minute 10) at Viet Tri Stadium. In this throw-in, Singapore made 3 consecutive headers: from the passing header of center-back Baharudin, to the headers of Shawal Anuar and Faris Ramli. The center-backs of the Vietnamese team continuously lost to their opponents in all 3 headers mentioned above.
Thailand is very strong in the ability to play high balls.
Fortunately for the Vietnamese team, Singapore's goal was disallowed because Faris Ramli was offside. However, this is a situation that the Vietnamese team must be wary of, and luck cannot always be on the side of coach Kim Sang-sik's players if we continue to lose to the opponent in the disputes from throw-in situations.
As for the Thai team, this team does not often use throw-in situations like Indonesia and Singapore still do against the Vietnamese team. First, Thailand has many attacking options, their playing style is diverse. They do not necessarily have to repeat the same attack style with only one option, which is to throw the ball hard into the opponent's penalty area.
Second, in the semi-final matches with the Philippines, Thailand did not use such an attacking style, because the Philippines has a tall defense (each of the Philippines' four defenders is over 1.85 m tall) and is good at heading the ball.
Thailand team has ideal height
Photo: Ngoc Linh
Vietnam team prepares plans to confront Thailand
However, if Thailand has discovered that the Vietnamese team is poor at defending high balls and throw-ins, they will likely use this style of play when facing us in the final.
Coach Kim Sang-sik prepares a plan
In theory, the Thai team possesses the ideal individuals for attacking from throw-ins. Thailand has two full-backs, Nicholas Mickelson and Suphanan Bureerat, who are physically strong and have strong throwing power. They have central defenders Pansa Hemviboon (1.90 m), Jonathan Khemdee (1.90 m), and striker Patrik Gustavsson (1.84 m) who have too many advantages in aerial battles. Therefore, if Thailand uses the same method as Singapore used to make it difficult for the Vietnamese team in throw-ins, they could be even more dangerous than Singapore.
Therefore, the Vietnamese team must also plan in advance a defensive plan for situations like this. Former U.23 Vietnam team coach Hoang Anh Tuan suggested: "To prevent throw-ins straight into the penalty area, I used to arrange for the goalkeepers to stand high up and actively jump up to compete for the ball in the air like this. No matter how tall the opponent's attackers are, they cannot take advantage of the goalkeepers' hands.
Xuan Son is expected to shine in the final match.
In addition, the main problem for defensive teams in throw-in situations is psychological. No matter how strong a throw-in is, it cannot be as dangerous as a cross from the same position. Moreover, throw-in situations cannot bring the ball to the other side of the 5m50 area, so the defending team can almost always zone in on some destinations of the ball to control it.
In the second leg of the semi-final against Singapore on the evening of December 29, coach Kim Sang-sik intended to put defender Viet Anh on the field several times, in order to take advantage of the defender's physical advantage (1.85 m) in defending high balls. Perhaps that was also a way for Mr. Kim to prepare personnel for the final match against Thailand. Unfortunately, the consecutive injuries of the three full-backs Van Thanh, Xuan Manh and Tan Tai caused coach Kim Sang-sik to ruin his plan to put Viet Anh on the field.
However, that detail reflects that the Korean coach highly values Thailand's ability to attack the ball in the air. Mr. Kim will find a way to overcome this strength of his opponent.
Watch ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 live & in full on FPT Play, at: http://fptplay.vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-dau-dau-voi-bai-toan-chong-nem-bien-truoc-thai-lan-185250101141216014.htm
Comment (0)