IT 'S TIME FOR A CHANGE
After conquering the top of Southeast Asia with the emotional AFF Cup 2024 championship, the Vietnamese team will begin its journey to reach out to Asia.
6 years ago, Vietnamese football also aimed for this milestone after winning the AFF Cup 2018. Despite achievements such as reaching the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup 2019 or the third qualifying round of the World Cup 2022, there are still thresholds that the generation of Quang Hai and Hoang Duc cannot overcome.
The journey back to the big sea of the Vietnamese team will begin right now. The generational transfer is being carried out by coach Kim Sang-sik, with 5 U.22 players (Van Khang, Trung Kien, Ly Duc, Thai Son, Vi Hao) wearing the national team jersey, along with a series of young talents waiting to be given the opportunity.
In addition, coach Kim Sang-sik's philosophy may change. The success at the AFF Cup 2024 shows that the Vietnamese team is still more comfortable and confident when playing counter-attacks. It is the lightning-fast attacks that Mr. Kim and his students have worked hard to build that have brought results. Possessing an all-round striker who can operate independently and press well like Xuan Son helps the Vietnamese team to play counter-attacks in the V-League style.
Vietnam team is ready for the big journey
PHOTO: NGOC LINH
However, this style of play needs to be improved when striker Xuan Son is absent for the next 6 months. Commentator Vu Quang Huy stated his opinion: "If we want to go further in the Asian playground, or further to the World Cup, the Vietnamese team needs to play proactively, with clearer lines and ideas."
The playing style needs to be demonstrated with the ability to deploy the ball from the defense, control the game, control the rhythm of play, as well as create smooth passing blocks for attack. Sharing with Thanh Nien , a veteran expert affirmed that the Vietnamese team needs to boldly push the defense up about 20 meters to create attacking pressure, while maintaining a stable playing intensity, knowing when to put pressure on.
N VICTORY MISSION
The match against the Cambodian team on March 19, although only a friendly match, will mark the first leg of coach Kim Sang-sik's journey to "cross the gate of heaven" with the Vietnamese team.
The Cambodian national team is no longer the easy opponent it used to be. Starting with coach Keisuke Honda, followed by Felix Dalmas and currently coached by Koji Gyotoku, Cambodian football has made remarkable progress in the past 5 years, with improved results in the national team, U.23, U.20 and U.17. In the 2025 U.20 Asian qualifiers, U.20 Cambodia caused a shock when they defeated U.20 Bahrain 1-0 to finish second in the group. Most recently, at the 2024 AFF Cup, the Cambodian national team drew 2-2 with Malaysia in a dominant position, defeated Timor Leste, lost 2-3 to Thailand and only lost to Singapore due to a goalkeeper error. With the presence of Japanese coaches, Cambodian football is pursuing a control philosophy, with passing the ball from home, developing a sequential style of play and organizing coherent attacks.
Cambodia has built a technical style of play that is consistent from the national team to the youth ranks. Along with the presence of a series of naturalized players such as striker Nieto Rondon (of Colombian origin), defenders Takaki Ose and Yudai Ogawa from Japan, striker Coulibaly Abdel Kader from Ivory Coast and defender Kanh Mo from South Africa… Coach Gyotoku’s team is a big enough obstacle for the Vietnamese team to overcome.
Cambodia's fast, strong and technically skilled attack will pose a challenge to Vietnam's defense, which is largely made up of veterans with extensive experience in major tournaments such as the Asian Cup or World Cup qualifiers. However, Cambodia's defense is not good, as defenders often make mistakes in marking and covering, and their coordination is unstable. This is an opportunity for Vietnam's strikers to adjust their "aim".
No matter how long the journey is, it must start with the first small steps. The new era of the Vietnamese team will begin from now.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khoi-dau-ky-nguyen-moi-185250317214955884.htm
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