Reinforce the defense with the glue of experience

Weaknesses Exposed

The Vietnam team will have the return of the duo Ngoc Hai (3) - Duy Manh (2)

Under coach Philippe Troussier, the Vietnamese team plays with the youngest defense in the past few years. Among the 5 defenders who regularly play on the field, Bui Hoang Viet Anh (born in 1999) and Nguyen Thanh Binh (2000) have had the opportunity to play quite a lot at the end of coach Park Hang-seo's "reign".

Meanwhile, Pham Xuan Manh (1996) was almost “forgotten” after the miracle of Thuong Chau 2018. Phan Tuan Tai (2001) debuted in the national team under coach Park Hang-seo but he was assigned to play left back, not left center back as he is now. Vo Minh Trong (2001) is a brand new name.

In this group, only Viet Anh played really well, being the mainstay of the defense with many excellent saves. Not only that, the 1.84 m tall center back is also very formidable in the attack.

He had a dangerous header, creating conditions for Pham Tuan Hai to score against the Japanese team. In the match against the Iraqi team, he scored the opening goal. It is not surprising that Viet Anh has the number of shots and assists at the 2023 Asian Cup, leading the Vietnamese team with 4 times, equal to Quang Hai and Van Khang.

Minh Trong (4) in the match between Vietnam and Iraq in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers

Vo Minh Trong played well in his first major tournament with the Vietnamese team, impressing with his first-step receiving ability, handling tight areas and good sideline passes.

However, his height of only 1.70 m makes this left-back often at a disadvantage in one-on-one battles. The left side of the defense, with him and Tuan Tai (1.76 m), is also constantly exploited by opponents, both with high balls and direct attacks.

On the opposite side, Xuan Manh still showed his strength in being stubborn and persistent, but he did not have many opportunities to participate in attacks. This made the danger on the right wing of the Vietnamese team almost non-existent.

Two names that have not met the requirements are Thanh Binh and Tuan Tai. Although highly appreciated by coach Troussier for his footwork, Tuan Tai has not made much of a difference in the development of the ball from the back line of the Vietnam team. When playing outside his strong position, he is also exploited quite a lot due to his poor physical strength, speed, and ability to compete...

Coach Troussier was very regretful about not having Thanh Chung (red shirt) at the 2023 Asian Cup.

Meanwhile, Thanh Binh has yet to overcome his psychological weakness. He played well against Iraq in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers but fumbled at the 2023 Asian Cup and caused Vietnam to concede a penalty in the match against Indonesia.

A series of warriors return

In the rematch against the team from the archipelago, the quality of the Vietnamese team's defense will be improved when Que Ngoc Hai, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Doan Van Hau and Do Duy Manh return. In particular, the appearance of Que Ngoc Hai is extremely important.

We probably don’t need to say too much about the player from Nghe An, the leading supporter of the Vietnam national team. In addition to his expertise, Que Ngoc Hai is also a spiritual leader. If we need an example, let’s look at the two matches of the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup.

In the match against the weaker opponent Philippines, Thanh Binh was clumsy and almost lost a goal. But in the match against the very strong team Iraq, playing alongside Que Ngoc Hai, Thanh Binh in particular and the defense of the Vietnamese team in general immediately showed a completely different face, much more confident.

Van Hau (right) in the match against the Vietnamese team in the semi-finals of the AFF Cup 2022

Although the opponent was much stronger, we still defended tenaciously and handled the ball steadily on our home field. Defeat only came in the final minutes, when Hai had left the field and the Vietnamese team was exhausted due to lack of experience.

After the match, Que Ngoc Hai also quickly entered the field to encourage and motivate his juniors. Those are the values ​​that the captain of the Vietnamese team brings, which statistics will never be able to clearly demonstrate.

With Thanh Chung, the Vietnamese team also has more options. The Hanoi FC center back also handles the ball very well with both feet, ready to compete with Tuan Tai. If Thanh Chung is used, the "credibility" in situations of high balls or one-on-one disputes will be higher.

Que Ngoc Hai (3rd from right) returned to the field to encourage the team after the last-minute loss.

On the left wing, Doan Van Hau is also ready to replace Minh Trong. The player from Thai Binh, once he regains his best form and fitness, will still be the number one left-back in Vietnam. He is even the "nemesis" of Indonesian football.

The lackluster right-back position at the 2023 Asian Cup may also change. Coach Troussier said he has not yet found the most suitable name. Opportunities are still open for Pham Xuan Manh, Vu Van Thanh, Ho Tan Tai or Truong Tien Anh.

In March, the Vietnamese national team's defense will have many quality players and that will be a solid foundation for Coach Troussier and his team to confidently look forward to the two important matches against Indonesia. Everyone will wait for the French coach to bring out the glue to counter the attack of Coach Shin Tae-yong and his team.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-gia-co-hang-thu-bang-chat-keo-kinh-nghiem-185240216193610148.htm