U23 Vietnam - U23 Kyrgyzstan: Looking for optimism
* Vietnam - Kyrgyzstan: 0h30 on March 29, Hanoi time.
Troussier's first two matches as head coach of the Vietnamese teams ended with a 0-3 defeat at the hands of Iraq and then 0-4 against the UAE. Therefore, Vietnam is standing last in the 10 teams participating in the U23 Doha Cup friendly tournament. Coach Troussier was under a lot of pressure from public opinion, although he affirmed that the losing team had learned many positive lessons and that the road ahead to prepare for the 2023 SEA Games was still long.
In the Kyrgyz match in the last leg today, Vietnam will welcome defender Vu Tien Long and midfielder Vo Hoang Minh Khoa back. Both had to receive red cards in the opening match against Iraq. Goalkeeper Doan Huy Hoang can also return despite having to wear a headband. Before that, he suffered a tear in his forehead in the match against the UAE in a situation where he tried to push the ball and hit the post.
But the problem with coach Troussier is not personnel, but player psychology. After two defeats, his players can be shaken, facing criticism and suspicion. During the training session on March 26, the French military leader had to speak to reassure the students: "Don't worry too much about the results because I am the one responsible."
In fact, in the hands of Troussier is a team that is not really as good as its predecessor Park Hang-seo. When Mr. Park was in charge of the first tournament - U23 Asia 2018, many students such as Nguyen Quang Hai, Doan Van Hau, Nguyen Cong Phuong... had a lot of experience in fighting in the V-League as well as the national youth tournaments. economic. Troussier's U23 team currently has little international football due to the influence of Covid-19 for the past three years, and is only a reserve card in domestic tournaments.
Coach Troussier's philosophy is also different, when he wants his students to control the ball and attack actively. According to the French military leader, if they meet Japan or South Korea, currently Vietnam only holds the ball 30-40%. So he wants to improve this aspect to be able to move to a higher level. "This is not easy and is not immediately possible. We will try to improve step by step," he said.
Meeting two strong opponents Iraq and the UAE, Vietnam has not been able to do as Troussier expected. However, before Kyrgyzstan also lost two matches in a row at the hands of Oman and Kuwait, his players had the opportunity to show the changes in play as well as the absorption with the football philosophy of the new teacher. That is the basic basis to best prepare for the 32nd SEA Games that will take place in Cambodia in May.
U23 Vietnam: Liem Dieu; Tuan Tai, Tien Long, Duy Cuong; Tuan Duong, Minh Khoa, Duc Viet, Van Do; Van Khang, Quoc Viet, Thanh Nhan.
Kyrgyz U23: Artem Pryadkin; Kultaev, Kanybekov, Stanbekov, Toktosunov, Kenzhebaev, Nurlan, Kerzbekov, Akylbekov, Zarypbekov, Nasirov.
