Steve Darby: 'Vietnamese women need support after the World Cup'
I have just returned to Liverpool, England from time in Sydney, Australia. I have spoken at the Football Journalists Festival, and have done a variety of other jobs related to television and radio, as a former coach of the Australian women's team. Unfortunately, I did not go to New Zealand, but I still update information about the Vietnamese women's team through former captain Bui Thi Hien Luong. And I also watched all three matches of Vietnam on TV.
This is by far the best Women's World Cup I've ever attended. I've been to concerts in Sweden or the US, but the media and fan interest in Australia and, in part, New Zealand has been amazing. There are tournament signs everywhere in Australia, and the major newspapers cover every match. The Australian women's team is often featured on the front pages of major newspapers, and even the men's team does not have this honor.
The biggest impression for me are the signs or advertising programs about female players that are popular in Australia. It's the same in England, when major newspapers also report other teams' matches. Women's football is really booming in many countries.
Vietnam played very well in the first two matches, when the team showed discipline and bravery despite losing. Sadly, the Netherlands was too strong compared to Vietnam in the third match. It is also difficult to maintain the discipline of playing continuously. The team also has nothing to lose, so try to play more offensively. Sadly, in this arena, the team that plays offensively against a stronger opponent will be severely punished.
The performance against the US in the opening match also helped Vietnam to be known to the world. Given the budget and number of female soccer players in the US, I thought the match between the two teams was like a motorbike taxi race against Ferrari. Many people have thought of the unbelievable score as when the US defeated Thailand 13-0 last time. But the 3-0 score that Vietnam brought was not too bold, helping Southeast Asian football to remove a bit of face. I believe the team has really made Vietnamese football fans proud.
Actually, there are only two Vietnamese players who have impressed me, and they can get a professional contract abroad, that is right back number 17 Tran Thi Thu Thao and center back number 4 Tran Thi. Collect. In the match against Portugal, Thu Thao blocked many attacks, while Tran Thi Thu covered in the back. Hope I'm wrong, because I want more Vietnamese players to make a living playing football abroad. Anyway, I can't judge the attacking players, because the team always has to defend. Goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh made many beautiful saves, but it was difficult to go abroad to play because of her low body shape.
The second lesson is that VFF needs to start looking for and attracting taller players. Midfielders or strikers may be as short as Lionel Messi or Diego Armando Maradona, but at world class, defenders and goalkeepers have to be tall. I have met tall female athletes, but they play volleyball or basketball. VFF needs to develop a specific program to find and nurture talents, select tall girls from a young age to orient themselves to become soccer players.
With short players when they grow up, we can't force them to be taller, but we can make them stronger. Young players therefore also need to do weight training according to a suitable plan for a long way. Vietnam needs to get rid of the old notion that weight training is not good for girls. A proper weight training program will help players get thinner, but stronger and faster.
The second limitation is that the number of matches played by female players is small, and the quality of equipment for training is also low. Vietnam needs a strong women's soccer tournament, and leaders can force V-League teams to have their own women's teams.
In England, football players began to organize double headers. That means the men's and women's football tournament schedules are the same, taking place on the same day, on the same field and a few hours apart. This attracts more audiences for women's football, increasing the awareness of girls playing football.
First, Vietnamese players need to overcome cultural barriers, because there are girls who give up football after getting married. When I was leading the team, I had only one married player. Other girls say they are under great pressure from their families to get married and have children. This barrier is difficult to break, but Australia or the US have players who bring their children to play.
Football is for everyone, regardless of skin colour, sex, race or religion. The 2023 World Cup has shown that football is indeed the most popular sport.
Giving money to players to participate in the tournament to live with football is really necessary. After the World Cup, each Vietnamese player will receive $30,000 from FIFA, and this money goes directly to them. VFF will also receive a bonus for passing the qualifying round.
For local players, the best chance would be to be recruited into the sports education system in the US. At that time, they can learn how to be professional footballers, develop their fitness, increase nutrition and learn culture every day. Then they will find the next step in their career very easy.
However, it is important for talented young players to start learning English. Because if they receive a scholarship from the US, they will live and compete in an English-speaking environment.
What I suggest above is mostly applicable to men's football as well.
The Vietnamese should be proud of the women's team at the World Cup, and continue to support the soccer girls. The team needs to stay motivated and build on this foundation. Praise should probably be given to coach Mai Duc Chung because he has excelled in the task for many years.
