Coach Troussier was not surprised by the SEA Games draw result
According to the results of the draw for the 32nd SEA Games men's football this afternoon, Vietnam - the team that won the gold medal in the last two Games - fell into Group B with Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Laos. Group A is considered "easier" with hosts Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines and Timor Leste.
"Personally, I'm not too surprised about the draw result, because the coaching staff has made predictions and prepared plans in advance," coach Troussier said when he learned of the home team's group. "Moreover, Vietnam also regularly encounters and is no stranger to rivals at the SEA Games. We respect all four teams in the same group and will focus on solving each match, in order to achieve the best results."
Coach Park Hang-seo helped Vietnam end their thirst for gold medals in men's football at the SEA Games when they defeated Indonesia 3-0 in the final match in the Philippines in 2019. By 2022, the Korean leader will continue to help. The team defended their position when they were crowned at My Dinh Stadium, when they beat Thailand with a header from Nham Manh Dung. However, coach Park Hang-seo broke up with Vietnamese football on January 31 and coach Troussier was selected as a replacement. The French leader was assigned the goal of bringing the team to the final.
"Regardless of the draw results and the identity of the opponent, Vietnam will still enter the tournament as the defending champion, with the ultimate goal of defending that position," added Coach Troussier.
The French military leader has just had the first round of working with U22 Vietnam, but the results were not satisfactory. Mr. Troussier's teachers and students lost all three matches against Iraq, UAE, and Kyrgyzstan, and were last among the 10 teams participating in the U23 Doha Cup friendly tournament. To prepare for moving to Cambodia to defend the SEA Games gold medal, U22 Vietnam is expected to gather again from April 17.
"When the team reunites, we will aim to improve and overcome the shortcomings of the last Doha Cup. The matches in Qatar are very valuable, helping the team have a quality rubbing experience. The opponents In the Doha Cup, there is a higher level at the continental level. If you don't participate in this tournament but only play domestically, the players will not be able to have those experiences, "said coach Troussier.
According to many experts, coach Troussier is more difficult than his predecessor Park when he took office, because the current force of the U22 team is not strong. Most of the French military's students have not won the main kick in the V-League or First Class, rarely playing. When Coach Park was in charge, players such as Doan Van Hau, Nguyen Quang Hai, Ha Duc Chinh... were seasoned with domestic and international experience. Moreover, the 32nd SEA Games does not allow teams to strengthen over-aged players. Earlier in the two periods Vietnam was crowned, over-aged players such as Nguyen Trong Hoang, Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Hoang Duc, and Nguyen Tien Linh had a great influence on the team's play.
Vietnam is in Group B competing at Prince Stadium with a capacity of about 15,000 seats, on match days on April 30, May 3, May 8 and May 11. The semi-finals will take place on May 13, and the final will take place on May 16.
