Vietnam team practices before Iraq match

QATAR - Putting aside the disappointment after losing to Indonesia and being eliminated, on the afternoon of January 22, coach Philippe Troussier and his team returned to training for the final match against Iraq at the 2023 Asian Cup.

The team started training at 4pm Doha, or 8pm Hanoi, at Al Rayyan Stadium.

Strikers Pham Tuan Hai (No. 10) and Nguyen Van Tung (No. 7) practiced separately due to injuries. Both had problems and had to leave the field early in the match against Indonesia on January 19.

However, Coach Troussier will have less worries about the personnel problem for the attack when Nguyen Dinh Bac returns. The 20-year-old striker of Quang Nam Club impressed in the opening match against Japan, when he headed back to equalize 1-1 and had a series of confident dribbles against many stars playing in Europe. However, he suffered a muscle strain and was sick, missing the second match.

Coach Troussier, as usual, started with ball control, asking his players to move in formation. Then, he divided the groups into short-distance passing drills.

After signing a contract with VFF in November 2023, the French coach always emphasizes a proactive style of play that controls the ball and coordinates attacks, not defense-counterattack like his predecessor Park Hang-seo.

Midfielder Nguyen Tuan Anh started both of Vietnam's matches. After the match against Indonesia, he admitted that his team did not play well and was very sad to be eliminated early.

However, on the training ground today, Tuan Anh and his teammates seemed to have overcome the shock, appeared comfortable and sometimes even joked with each other.

Center back Bui Hoang Viet Anh (left) is one of the few players who played consistently, resolving many high balls as well as one-on-one situations. In the match against Indonesia, he was given the second highest score.

The goal of scoring points against Iraq will not be easy. In five meetings in official tournaments, Vietnam only drew once, the rest were losses.

The West Asian team also has a psychological advantage after winning the right to continue at the 2023 Asian Cup with the first place in Group D.

Ho Tan Tai is one of the most experienced players in the current squad, but has not played a single minute. In the upcoming match, which is a formality, Coach Troussier is expected to consider players like Tan Tai, Van Thanh... to help the squad be more balanced and combative.

Nguyen Quang Hai was once a star under coach Park, but after an unsuccessful period in France and returning to play for the Hanoi Police, he completely declined. He started in the match against Indonesia, but he did not have any sharp attacks and did not create connections in the midfield.

On the contrary, wearing the captain's armband and playing well against Japan, but Do Hung Dung was not allowed to participate in the match against Indonesia.

Before the training session, Khuat Van Khang said he was proud to be on the big stage in the national team's jersey, always trying to improve himself through each tournament and each match. He also longed to score a goal.

"No matter who the opponent is, the whole team always fights to get the best result. In the final match, we will give our best to the fans. I hope the fans will always be by the team's side," he said.

Goalkeeper Nguyen Filip will certainly be a pillar of support for Vietnam. He has played consistently in the past two matches, even receiving a score of 7.6 from Sofascore , the highest among the players participating in the match between Vietnam and Indonesia.

Losing two consecutive matches, Vietnam was eliminated early in the 2023 Asian Cup. However, coach Troussier and his team showed that they are still highly focused, trying to play their best against Iraq on January 24.

In the most recent meeting, in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers at My Dinh Stadium on November 22, 2023, Vietnam lost 0-1 to Iraq thanks to a goal in injury time.

Lam Thoa - Vnexpress.net

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