Looking back at the two opening matches of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Mr. Bae Ji Won highly appreciated the fighting spirit of the Vietnamese team but the physical condition of the players was really difficult. In addition, he respected the decisions of Coach Troussier and reminded the players to behave properly.
The match between Vietnam and Iraq left many regrets but also caused many controversies. How do you evaluate the performance of the Vietnamese team?
- I know many fans feel regretful and disappointed about the final result. However, instead of just criticizing the unsatisfactory result, we should pay more attention to the upcoming matches at the 2023 Asian Cup. The Vietnam team needs to review the issues that need to be solved and the aspects that need to be improved.
Many Vietnamese football fans always want to achieve the desired results. This pressure is huge. Therefore, the Vietnamese team must carefully analyze the opponents in the remaining matches and prepare as detailed as possible.
Regarding the recent match, it must be emphasized that Iraq is an opponent with strength equal to Saudi Arabia, Qatar or Iran. If Korea were to face this team, it would be very difficult for them to win. Before the match, I could recognize Coach Troussier's tactical intentions through the way he arranged the team.
In response to Dan Tri newspaper, I mentioned that the Vietnamese team would play with a deep formation, focusing on defense and waiting for counter-attack opportunities. As expected, Iraq attacked in many different directions, including attacking from the wings, midfielders advancing from the second line and penetrating the penalty area with two target strikers.
When losing the ball in attack, Iraqi players immediately organized fierce pressing to regain control of the ball. In particular, Iraq prevented counter-attacks of the Vietnamese team with coordination between midfielders and defenders.
Iraq's proactive, high-intensity, and aggressive moves were an effort to quickly create scoring opportunities while preventing Vietnam from holding the ball. Under Iraq's attacking pressure from the start of the match, it was difficult for Vietnam to create scoring opportunities.
Therefore, the final result reflects the situation of the match. The Vietnamese team focused on defense and almost succeeded. In this aspect, I believe the media and fans have a better understanding of Coach Troussier's tactical intentions.
However, it should also be added that Coach Troussier's counter-attack plan based on a solid defense has not achieved the desired results. Despite having a large number of players in defense, the Vietnamese team has difficulty organizing attacks due to a lack of connection with the midfield.
The Vietnamese players did not keep the ball long enough and with quality in the midfield, often losing the ball due to strong pressure from the opponent. As a result, the strikers were starved of the ball.
A team that focuses on defense and counter-attacks needs strikers who are quick, daring and aggressive. This means a player who can play independently and score goals.
On the defensive front, the majority of players in red shirts created a solid wall to block the opponent. As a result, the Iraqi team often showed impatience and made many mistakes on the field.
Overall, Coach Troussier's tactical plan had a clear impact on the game and kept the opponent from scoring for 95 minutes. Unfortunately, the Vietnamese team could not defend in the final situation.
Football is a game of goals. No matter how the match goes, an unsatisfactory result becomes a target for criticism. However, the strong fighting spirit and unyielding will of the Vietnamese team, not giving up until the last minute, bring hope for the next matches.
In your opinion, which players performed well and which players did not meet expectations?
- Football is a team sport. A team is made up of many players. The weakness of an individual is also the responsibility of the whole team. The press and fans often focus on criticizing the mistakes or poor performance of some players.
However, the coach is ultimately responsible for the results and the whole team must be evaluated together. Players play according to their positions and handle situations according to the requirements of the coaching staff. This requirement is broader than the tactical intention established by the coach and disseminated to the players.
Players who have not been able to perform to their full potential in the match or have physical problems also depend on the coach's tactical plan.
Therefore, if a coach publicly criticizes his players' performance in front of the media, it can lower the morale of the entire team. Individual evaluations unintentionally turn football into an individual sport rather than a team sport.
If individual problems are discovered during the match, these players must be sympathized with, understood by the coaching staff and find ways to improve during training. Of course, a team can be at a disadvantage due to the inferiority of a specific player position. However, it is not right to point out someone as the culprit, because it is the coach who gives them the opportunity.
The national team is where the best players gather. Therefore, if a player has problems meeting the requirements set by the coaching staff, he can be replaced by another player.
Professional issues at the national team level are very different from those at the club level. Because the national team is where the best players dedicate themselves to the country, with pride and strong patriotism.
Looking towards the immediate goal, what are the chances of Vietnam advancing when the Philippines and Indonesia tied 1-1?
- If we have to compete with other opponents until the end, the Vietnamese team must pay attention to the results of all matches. After 2 matches, first and foremost, we must analyze the matches that have been played and prepare well for the upcoming matches.
I am currently interested in the ability of the Vietnamese team to play football. The reason is that if the Vietnamese team plays effectively and achieves the expected results, the players will be more confident to face the next opponents, which means a higher chance of winning.
Tactics always change depending on the opponent. Psychological factors will affect performance and the course of the match will always have surprises, depending on the opponent's tactics and playing style. That is why we often say that football is a sport with many surprises.
However, it takes a well-prepared plan and high concentration to adapt to any situation that arises. Strong physical strength, stable mentality and high team spirit will help players gain more confidence to create motivation to win.
There is a very notable statistic after the last match: the Vietnamese team did not have any shots on goal. What do you think about this statistic?
- Before talking about the statistics of the match against Iraq, let's talk about the match against the Philippines. The Vietnam team had a relatively difficult match. The Philippines created scoring opportunities that could have changed the outcome of the match. This team failed to take advantage of them and that was their problem.
However, from the match against the Philippines, it can be seen that the Vietnamese team needs to improve their ability to launch attacks, while also recognizing the problems in the defense. Fewer shots means fewer scoring opportunities.
Against a strong opponent like Iraq, this is completely understandable. Even in the match against South Korea, the Vietnamese team barely created clear scoring opportunities.
If this problem happens against weaker or equal opponents like Southeast Asian teams, specifically in the World Cup qualifiers like the Philippines and Indonesia, then it is alarming.
Against Iraq, with a high probability of losing, the main task is to minimize the opponent's scoring opportunities. Therefore, the situation and statistics of the matches will vary depending on the opponent and the tactics set by the coach.
The most controversial topic is Coach Troussier’s use of people. He continues to give opportunities to many young players but does not use Hung Dung, Hoang Duc or Bui Tien Dung, the pillars of the Vietnam team under Coach Park Hang Seo. What do you think about Coach Troussier’s use of people?
- I am very interested in this issue. However, the choice of which players to play is the coach's authority. In particular, I do not want to evaluate the lineup because it depends on the coach's tactics. If the match results and performance do not meet the requirements, the coach must have a backup plan ready to replace.
I have mentioned the position and role of the players from the friendly matches between Vietnam and Uzbekistan and Korea. For example, Tuan Tai plays the role of a left-sided center-back. Tuan Tai is a player with the characteristics of a left-sided defender.
He doesn't have the height or strength of a central defender. He is better at climbing the flanks quickly and skillfully. Tuan Tai's crosses are very accurate and cause a lot of trouble for the opposing defense.
However, Tuan Tai's new role and task is to work with the other central defenders to create a tight defensive system to block the opponent in the center of the defense. However, he was the one who rushed out to block Iraq's cross in the last minute of the match. He should have been in the middle of the penalty area and blocked the opponent's striker from entering to score.
Unfortunately, Tuan Tai moved to the wing like a full-back. He no longer had enough strength and speed to chase the opponent, which resulted in a goal. When the opponent crossed the ball, Tuan Tai, Thanh Binh and Bui Hoang Viet Anh should have played the central role in the defense, marking every white-shirted player in the penalty area.
Of course, the positive thing about the current Vietnam team is that young players are given regular opportunities. This is good for the future, but personally I think we should focus first on using experienced players to get through the group stage of this World Cup qualifier.
If young players are given a chance because they have no other choice, people will accept it more easily. But if there are experienced and capable players, Coach Troussier can find the most effective personnel solution through those faces. It is best to consider carefully when using people.
In the case of Hoang Duc, Coach Troussier said that this player did not meet expectations so he was not allowed to play in both matches. In your opinion, what problem is Hoang Duc facing?
- The coach gives opportunities to many players. If this player does not meet the requirements of the coaching staff, he can consider another player.
Hoang Duc is a good player. However, no matter how good his ability is, if he deviates from the head coach's tactical views and lacks the ability to execute the game plan, the coach will not easily give him a chance.
It should be noted that Hoang Duc has been given many opportunities. It seems that Mr. Troussier has great confidence and recognition of his ability. And not only Hoang Duc, experienced players such as Do Hung Dung, Bui Tien Dung have been or will be given opportunities.
It is important for every national team player to change their perception and accept their position and role in the team. From the perspective of a former football player, I think we should not question why we are not given opportunities. We must accept our current situation and do our best with the tasks assigned to us.
The opportunities given to players are all within the authority of the head coach. Players must be careful in expressing their personal feelings and opinions in public. The national team is not a mere collective. It is the pride of the whole country.
Another issue that has received much attention is the physical strength of the players. Before the 70th minute, the Vietnamese team had used up all their substitutions. By the final minutes of the match, most of the players were exhausted. Coach Troussier also said that he used all 5 substitutions as a temporary solution. Were the Iraqi players too strong or were the Vietnamese players too exhausted?
- The 3-4-3 formation only works effectively when the overall fitness of the entire team is guaranteed. This formation requires players to move continuously to create pressure on both the attack and defense of the opponent. Ajax Amsterdam (Netherlands), the Korean team under coach Hiddink (World Cup 2002) and the Vietnamese team under coach Park Hang Seo also use 3-4-3.
The most important issue to be concerned and trained, besides perfecting the tactics around the 3-4-3 formation, is to create a strong physical foundation for the players. To effectively apply the ability to create pressure, every player must maintain a good positional balance, the whole team must move continuously and synchronously. That is the main feature of this formation.
Ajax, coach Hiddink and coach Park Hang Seo all share the same pressing tactics: strong fighting spirit; quick and agile movement; ball handling skills and understanding of tactics; good and consistent coordination; placing players in the right positions.
3-4-3 is a formation for attacking play. To take advantage of the 3-4-3, the physical strength and skills of each player need to be effectively promoted. Therefore, physical strength is especially valued.
Of course, the 3-4-3 in the hands of Coach Hiddink or Coach Park Hang Seo has been adjusted to suit the reality of the team being rated lower. Both focus more on the balance factor.
To use 3-4-3 in an active attacking direction, the technical and physical level of the players must be guaranteed. To have more possession of the ball than the opponent, excellent passing ability and good physical strength are needed to move.
Therefore, at the 2002 World Cup, Coach Hiddink set the top goal of improving the technique and physical strength of the Korean players. The same is true for Coach Park Hang Seo of the Vietnamese team.
At the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, the Vietnam U23 team played 3 group stage matches and 3 knockout matches. From the quarter-finals to the final, the matches were only two days apart and each match lasted 120 minutes. However, no one had to leave the field due to cramps or exhaustion.
But it should also be said that physical strength is not something that can be improved quickly. It requires many factors such as nutrition, physical training, physical improvement and tactical progress. Every player saves energy better if he handles situations simply and effectively.
Coach Troussier also said that Vietnamese players today are only strong enough to compete at high intensity for 60 minutes. As a fitness expert, do you think Coach Troussier's assessment is accurate?
- I agree with him. His physical weakness was exposed in the match against Iraq. The fact that the two central defenders Que Ngoc Hai and Tuan Tai both suffered from cramps is very serious. The important point is who will handle this physical problem.
Mr. Troussier may think that the V-League teams should share the responsibility. On the other hand, the V-League teams can also argue that the national team coach did not have time to improve the players' physical condition. I think the physical condition issue will continue to be debated and a source of controversy.
The most important thing is that Coach Troussier must have a solution. Improving the physical fitness of the players under Coach Park Hang Seo is planned in detail and long-term. Previously, I prepared according to the tactical requirements of each training session.
Football consists of three main elements: technique, tactics and physicality. Psychology and nutrition are also very important. But the actual situation is different every time. So we cannot apply the old method to the current team.
Thank you for the conversation!
Design: Duc Binh
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