Coach Troussier: 'The bronze medal at SEA Games 32 is a starting point'

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

"We wanted to win this match, because it brings medals. We want to use this victory as a marker, and leave a positive image. We will remember this moment at the SEA Games in Cambodia, a moment when the journey begins," he said after the 3-1 victory at the Olympic Stadium (Phnom Penh), and said that before the match he had talked to the players that this match was not only about competing for medals but also the beginning of a new journey - the U23 Asian qualifiers. He wanted the players to play wisely and calmly, and in fact they played well, being proactive and making reasonable decisions.

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, coach Troussier's team opened the score thanks to a decisive run and shot in the penalty area by defender Ho Van Cuong. In the 34th minute, Ho Van Cuong 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 led 3-0 thanks to a one-touch left-foot shot by Khuat Van Khang. It was not until the end of the second half that Myanmar got one goal back from Aung Myo's header.

Regarding hero Van Cuong, Coach Troussier said: "Considered a defender, Van Cuong scored two goals in this match. In the Vietnamese football environment, there are many goals that come in the form of 'oh my god', from mistakes by 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 to participate in Southeast Asian but also Asian tournaments. 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 coach Park Hang-seo. In January, the Korean coach left after his contract expired, so coach Troussier was chosen as his successor. This SEA Games is his true testament.

Evaluating the current generation of Vietnam compared to other countries that have faced each other in this tournament, he 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. Players from Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia have played a lot, even 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 we need to maintain and move towards 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 will send 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. 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. The U23 Asian Cup, taking place in September 2023, falls at a time when domestic tournaments are about to end. We have to preserve the integrity of the domestic tournament. The U22 players have not played much domestically. However, it is difficult to use the best players. Because many teams want to keep their reserves. The VFF and I agreed to use younger players for the tournaments. My priority is the U23 team participating in the U23 Asian Cup, followed by the World Cup qualifiers. We have to preserve the interests of the clubs. If we have to stop the tournament for a long time, the clubs will have to start over. I want to build the team from the club foundation. We can only have a strong team if the clubs are strong and the domestic tournament is strong."