U23 Vietnam is competing satisfactorily and is in the quarterfinals of the 2024 U23 Asian Championship. Although not at the same level, the results U23 Vietnam achieved are in complete contrast to the achievements of the Vietnamese team under the coach. Troussier. Many experts highly appreciate the playing style of U23 Vietnam, but how do you evaluate coach Hoang Anh Tuan’s tactics?
– Normally, I only consider tournaments like U23 Asia as a tournament for young players to practice and accumulate more experience. But in even years like 2024, the tournament also serves as a qualifying round for men’s soccer at the Summer Olympics. Therefore, this tournament has increased importance.
However, no matter what, the comparison between the U23 team and the national team is impossible, because in many cases there is a big difference in people, opponent level or quality. number of tournaments. The World Cup qualifying matches and the Asian Cup finals are much more intense than at the U23 level.
Comparing now is too early, even though U23 Vietnam has won 2 consecutive matches and won a ticket to the quarterfinals one round early. Of course, this is a wonderful result. Any comparisons should be made after the tournament ends.
What will happen if U23 Vietnam, after losing 0-3 to Uzbekistan, continues to lose in the quarterfinals to Iraq? Could it be that U23 Vietnam has become a bad team?!
As for coach Hoang Anh Tuan, he is doing what is necessary at the U23 level. He is on the right track and therefore deserves praise. However, these are just 2 matches against 2 opponents who are not too strong, all assessments should be left after the tournament.
Two games is too early to make any long-term comments. But it cannot be denied that coach Hoang Anh Tuan is doing his job very well.
How do you evaluate U23 Vietnam’s loss to Uzbekistan and the strength of opponent Iraq in the quarterfinals (00:30 on April 27), alongside bright candidates such as defending champion Saudi Arabia and runner-up? U23 Uzbekistan?
– A loss is never good for confidence. However, U23 Vietnam needs to stand together and this is the time for coach Hoang Anh Tuan to show how good he is. Iraq is a strong and unpredictable team, but the opportunity for U23 Vietnam is there.
First of all, U23 Vietnam must believe that they can defeat the opponent. Furthermore, Hoang Anh Tuan and his team have nothing to lose by not playing their best match.
Saudi Arabia is one of the most powerful football teams on the continent, not only at the national team level but also at the youth team level. The youth of this country’s football industry benefits from carefully invested talent development support programs.
Furthermore, money has never been a problem for this country’s football teams. I often think Saudi Arabia’s biggest weakness lies in the psychological aspect. If they are behind, this team often tends to collapse, the players start arguing and the team becomes undisciplined. Battle prowess has never been Saudi Arabia’s strong point.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan is often a collection of strong, athletic players. This team may not have many outstanding talents, but it is well organized. In other words, Uzbekistan lacks an outstanding individual to create a breakthrough but is very solid tactically.
U23 Thailand had a lot of expectations for this year’s tournament, but they were eliminated at the bottom of the table. How do you evaluate the strength of this country’s U23 team compared to Vietnam’s U23 team?
– U23 Thailand experienced a very heavy loss against Saudi Arabia and continued to disappoint against Tajikistan. Therefore, there will be more or less psychological pressure on the team, from the coaching staff to the players. It should be added that Thai football is in a period of disorder.
The country’s football scene is chaotic from the top, with constant changes of national team head coaches and a new Football Federation President. Thai football also offers great financial incentives to achieve good results, but the downside is that it will put great pressure on the players.
Are you impressed with any players in U23 Vietnam?
– The player who has left the most impression on me so far is goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan. He plays firmly, has quick reflexes and is a safe fulcrum in the wooden frame. Defender Luong Duy Cuong also played very well, he looked very agile and strong.
Also striker Nguyen Van Tung. He scored in the match against Kuwait. That is the most important task for a striker. These three names should be planned and trained to be included in the national team, because they will be the future of the team.
If the current generation of U23 Vietnam players succeeds at the U23 Asian Championship, what should Vietnamese football, including managers, clubs, coaches, and fans, do to make this generation of players develop? stable and long-term development in the future?
– Rules should always be applied! The best players should move on to play in the continent’s top professional football leagues such as Japan and Korea, where they will receive professional training.
Other players must regularly play in the V-League. They are not allowed to sit on the bench just to let an average foreign player play.
Let’s look at Van Tung. He has only played 28 matches in the V-League over three seasons and only scored one goal. Why is there such a result? Is he being kept by a foreign striker?
Van Tung or any other young player can only improve if he plays more matches in the V-League or goes abroad to compete. Players cannot develop or improve while sitting on the bench.
The same is the future of coach Hoang Anh Tuan. If successful at the U23 Asian Championship, should VFF give Mr. Tuan the opportunity to lead the national team?
– I always believe in the principle that the head coach of the national team should be a native. The coach of the Vietnamese team should be Vietnamese. Of course, that person needs to be good enough and respected by all the players. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan has done a very good job up to this point, but any specific assessments need to be made after the U23 Asian finals end.
What will happen if coach Hoang Anh Tuan loses to U23 Iraq in the quarterfinals? Will the media and fans suddenly change and not see him as a good coach anymore? I just wish him success and hope he will become a national coach in the future, because I believe the next person to lead the Vietnamese team should be Vietnamese.
Last question, how do you feel about Vietnamese football culture? Everyone knows that if you want to develop football, you must invest in the national championship, but can you see, fans are happier when national teams achieve high results, including youth tournaments?
– Vietnamese football culture is complex and difficult to understand for foreigners. I know that from my own experience. I won every match as coach of the Vietnamese women’s team participating in the SEA Games but was still heavily criticized.
There seems to be a habit of extreme criticism in the media and among fans, who love to point out flaws and demand improvements. In the age of social networks, the impact of this problem is even more serious.
I think we should praise when necessary and also set realistic expectations for the national team at all levels. If the V-League is of poor quality, the Vietnamese team will be affected. If investment is poor, the quality of youth teams will also decline and cannot achieve good results.
Vietnamese football has great potential, a large population and strong passion, but it needs to have a perspective based on reality, understanding and not becoming extreme because of winning or losing.
I hope U23 Vietnam will create a surprise in the quarterfinals of the U23 Asian Championship. That will be a real success and stands the chance of winning tickets to attend the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Thank you for the discussion!
Content: Ngoc Trung
Design: Duc Binh
April 26, 2024 – 06:41
Tags: Steve Darby early judge coach Hoang Anh Tuans success failure
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