Indonesian coach: 'Vietnam and Thailand lack Fair-Play'
The South Korean coach dismissed Indonesia's 5-1 win over Myanmar as meaningless, while Vietnam drew 1-1 with Thailand on the night of July 10. "Vietnam and Thailand were supposed to play level playing field, but that's not the case," he said at a post-match press conference. "I was unhappy and offended by the result."
Vietnam and Thailand both played for about 80 minutes. Thailand opened the scoring with Kroekphon in the 72nd minute, but captain Khuat Van Khang equalized only four minutes later. Since then, neither team wants to score. Vietnam only passed the ball back and forth between the defender and the goalkeeper, and Thailand did not scramble for the ball. There are as many as three Thai players lying on the field during this period, even if they are just moving normally. Because the score of 1-1 was just enough for the two teams to continue hand in hand, the host was eliminated.
"Obviously they are afraid of Indonesia," coach Shin added. "Vietnam and Thailand both know that Indonesia is making progress, so they have to do so."
Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia all scored 11 points in Group A, with Indonesia having the highest goal difference at +15, followed by Vietnam +9 and Thailand +6. However, when the points of teams are equal, the first criterion of ranking is the number of goals in confrontation and confrontation. Indonesia both drew 0-0 with Vietnam and Thailand, the only team not to score.
"In the FIFA and AFC tournaments, the criteria for ranking teams based on this confrontation have been abandoned," the Indonesian coach said. "I find it strange because the AFF still retains this rule."
In the 2018 World Cup, points are ranked according to the first standard, that is, goal difference. In the 2019 Asian Cup, the first criterion is confrontation, and then the number of goals in confrontation.
Indonesia broke the circuit of reaching the U19 Southeast Asia semi-finals three times in a row, although they are the hosts this year and are fully prepared for the U20 World Cup in 2023. Vietnam and Thailand both reached the semi-finals after being eliminated in the last round of group stage. The two teams will face Laos or Malaysia.
