Coach Troussier: 'The bronze medal at SEA Games 32 is the first step'

According to coach Philippe Troussier, the bronze medal won against Myanmar is very valuable and will be remembered as the moment when his journey began.

"We wanted to win this match, because it brings medals. We want to use it as a marker and a positive image. We will remember this moment at the SEA Games in Cambodia, a moment when the journey began," Troussier said after the 3-1 victory at the Olympic Stadium (Phnom Penh), affirming that the players played well, were proactive and made reasonable decisions as he had expected before the match.

Coach Troussier in the bronze medal match against Myanmar at the Olympic Stadium on the afternoon of May 16. Photo: Lam Thoa — Coach Troussier in the bronze medal match against Myanmar at the Olympic Stadium on the afternoon of May 16. Photo: *Lam Thoa*

Two days after the bitter defeat in the semi-final against Indonesia, Vietnam showed a positive side in the match against Myanmar. In the 9th minute, the team opened the score thanks to a decisive run and shot by Ho Van Cuong. In the 34th minute, this defender received the ball on the right wing and shot into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Phyo Thu no chance to block. This is the second Vietnamese player to score a double at the 32nd SEA Games, after Nguyen Van Tung. In the 54th minute, Vietnam raised the score to 3-0 thanks to a one-touch left-foot shot by Khuat Van Khang. By the end of the second half, Myanmar had scored a goal from Aung Myo's header.

Regarding hero Van Cuong, Coach Troussier said: "Considered a defender, but in this match Van Cuong scored two goals. In the Vietnamese football environment, there are many goals that come in the form of 'oh my god, oh my god', from mistakes of the referee or the opponent. But in this match, our goals were performed according to the plan, we had prepared and practiced in advance. The bronze medal is not commensurate with the fans' expectations, but I see my team through expertise. We are in the process of building. I want the players to play carefully, not only playing well in Southeast Asian tournaments but also in Asia. Thank you SEA Games, for giving us experience, selecting players to prepare for the future".

Ho Van Cuong (No. 13) and Khuat Van Khang were the authors of three goals for Vietnam in the match against Myanmar. Photo: Lam Thoa — Ho Van Cuong (No. 13) and Khuat Van Khang were the authors of three goals for Vietnam in the match against Myanmar. Photo: *Lam Thoa*

Vietnam won the last two SEA Games under the guidance of Coach Park Hang-seo. The Korean coach's contract expired in January, so Coach Troussier was chosen to succeed him. The SEA Games was his first official tournament.

Evaluating the current generation of Vietnam compared to the countries that have faced each other in this tournament, Troussier said: "In terms of organization, tactics and playing style, I see no team that is too superior to Vietnam. The teams are all equal. The difference is in real-life experience. The players of Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have played a lot, even playing abroad. Their core is U22. As for Vietnam, for example, in this match there were six U20 players. In my opinion, the current squad of Vietnam has many talented players. In the future, they can help Vietnam achieve better results. I am optimistic about this generation, but of course we need to maintain and aim for the next goals."

After the SEA Games, the Asian Games (ASIAD 19) is the next important tournament for Vietnamese sports in 2023. Normally, the VFF sends the U23 or U22 team to participate. However, with the goal of rejuvenation and aiming to participate in the 2026 World Cup finals, the U20 team will represent Vietnam in the tournament in China in September to gain experience. This means that many players at the SEA Games will not be able to participate in the upcoming ASIAD.

Coach Troussier commented: "I understand the VFF's point of view. It is not an easy decision. These tournaments are not FIFA Days. We have to preserve the integrity of the domestic tournament.... The VFF and I agree to use younger players for the tournaments. My priority is the U23 team participating in the U23 Asian tournament, followed by the World Cup qualifiers. We have to preserve the interests of the clubs. If we have to stop the tournament many times, the clubs will have to start over. I want to build the national team from the club foundation. We can only have a strong national team if the clubs are strong and the domestic tournament is strong."