Decoding the opponents of the Vietnamese team at the AFF Cup

First test

Laos is considered the weakest opponent in Group B of the 2024 AFF Cup, along with Indonesia, the Philippines and Myanmar. However, this is the first match of the "million elephant" team, so it will not be an easy test for the Vietnamese team.

The confrontation between Vietnam and Indonesia at AFF Cup 2024 will be very exciting

In the history of confrontation, the Lao team has never won against the Vietnamese team. They only had 1 draw with a score of 1-1 at the AFF Cup 1996, and lost 12 matches. In the losses since 1997 in all regional and friendly tournaments, the Lao team has only scored 2 goals, and lost 10 matches; of which, there were 2 losses with a record score of 0-9. The last time the Lao team met the Vietnamese team at the AFF Cup 2022, in the opening match in Vientiane, they lost 0-6.

However, the upcoming confrontation is not certain that coach Kim Sang-sik and his team will repeat the same result. The Lao team has recently made certain progress under the leadership of Korean coach Ha Hyeok-jun, since August 2024. They just had a relatively impressive friendly match when they drew 1-1 with the Thai team on November 17.

Coach Ha Hyeok-jun has made significant changes to the Lao team's squad, calling up many young and dynamic players in their 20s, combined with experienced players; thereby creating a team with a very cohesive playing style. Holding the Thai team to a draw will be a great motivation for the Lao players when entering the confrontation with the Vietnamese team.

Preparing for the AFF Cup, the Vietnamese team won 3 matches against clubs in Korea, helping coach Kim Sang-sik's students regain confidence, so in the opening match against Laos, coach Kim Sang-sik's students were confident of winning.

Compete directly with Indonesia

In Group B, Indonesia is a strong candidate, along with Vietnam, competing for two semi-final spots. Right after the opening match with Vietnam against Laos, Indonesia will also play an away match against Myanmar (on the same day, December 9). Indonesia will then play Laos at home on December 12. The match on December 15 is crucial, when Vietnam returns home to welcome Indonesia at Viet Tri Stadium in Phu Tho. This promises to be the decisive match for the top spot in Group B.

The Indonesian team has made great progress since the 2023 Asian Cup (playing in early 2024) thanks to the naturalization policy. However, at the 2024 AFF Cup, coach Shin Tae-yong cannot use most of these naturalized players because the clubs do not release players because the tournament is not on the FIFA Days schedule. Only striker Rafael Struick is certain to play. Therefore, the Indonesian team has to use domestic players, but they are still very formidable. This is a team that has been trained and led by coach Shin Tae-yong for a long time, so they play very cohesively and in harmony.

Of the remaining two teams in Group B, the Philippines are undergoing a change of squad and have had to replace four coaches in 2024. They lost to Vietnam in both of their recent matches under coach Philippe Troussier (0-2) and Kim Sang-sik (2-3), both in the second qualifying round for the 2026 World Cup in Asia. However, they have recently shown signs of recovery under the guidance of Spanish coach Albert Capellas, who finished third at the King's Cup in Thailand (winning 3-0 against Tajikistan).

The Myanmar team is also in the process of rebuilding its squad after an unsuccessful performance in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, so there is nothing to worry about. The team has lost two consecutive matches recently against Singapore and Lebanon with the same score of 2-3 in friendly matches in November, so if they play to their potential, the Vietnamese players can win.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/giai-ma-cac-doi-thu-cua-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-tai-aff-cup-185241205210936372.htm