TOMISSION OF INDONESIA
The 3-3 draw against Laos was a painful fall for the Indonesian team, right before coach Shin Tae-yong and his team entered the decisive match with Vietnam at Viet Tri Stadium at 8:00 p.m. on December 15. However, Indonesia’s problem did not wait until the match against Laos to reveal itself, but right from the opening match against Myanmar, Mr. Shin’s students revealed shortcomings in the way they played. For a group of players even young enough to play in next year’s SEA Games, the lack of both experience and bravery is a weakness, causing Indonesia to become a fragmented, less cohesive team and unable to keep a “cool” head. even when facing an inferior opponent.
Before the Vietnam – Indonesia match, what points should coach Kim Sang-sik be wary of?
The Indonesian team played loosely and was easily overtaken by opponents in one-touch hitting and releasing situations because the team’s distance was not guaranteed. In attack, Indonesia is no more impressive. 3 of the 4 goals the island team has scored so far came from Arhan’s throw-ins, while the remaining goal came from a corner kick. That means, coach Shin Tae-yong’s students have not been able to create any successful live ball combinations since the beginning of the tournament. This statistic also reflects Indonesia’s attacking ability, as players often rely on speed and technique to pass players and create mutations, instead of having a stable playing rhythm and coherent coordination.
The Vietnamese team (22) is strong enough to get all 3 points against Indonesia
When the naturalized players only have one name left (Rafael Struick) attending the 2024 AFF Cup, nothing can obscure Indonesia’s shortcomings. The “internal soldiers” of the island team need a lot of time to meet Mr. Shin’s standards.
CHIDE THE YOUTH OF THE VISIT TEAM
The Vietnamese team has all the advantages before the match on the evening of December 15. Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team had more than 3 days off, did not have to travel continuously, and got used to the weather conditions and Viet Tri field. Compared to Indonesia’s young force, the Vietnamese team has a group of experienced stars, in which Quang Hai, Tien Linh, Hoang Duc and Duy Manh have all “led their pockets” at least 2 or 3 times to attend the AFF Cup. The understanding and ability to adapt in the AFF Cup playground are the fulcrum for Mr. Kim and his team to overcome the Indonesian obstacle.
After two matches, Indonesia’s strengths and weaknesses were monitored and analyzed in detail by Mr. Kim’s coaching team. The Korean coach admitted that the Vietnamese team had studied Indonesia before the tournament to find ways to neutralize their opponents. With thorough preparation, the door to victory will be wider for Vietnam.
However, the match at Viet Tri Stadium will not be easy for coach Kim Sang-sik and his team. Because as mentioned, Indonesia is very young, and youth always comes with unpredictability. The team from the land of thousands of islands may play poorly against Laos and will be without key player Marselino Ferdinan in the match against Vietnam. However, the team relies heavily on the inspiration that Mr. Shin has coached and can play extremely “picky” when reaching a favorable psychological drop point.
Facing unpredictable opponents, the Vietnamese team needs discipline and steadfastness. Instead of being subjective and getting caught up in Indonesia’s playing style, Mr. Kim’s students need to enter the game firmly. The defense must be more tight and disciplined than what was shown against Laos, to prevent Indonesia’s first attack. With their physical advantage, the Vietnamese team can play cautiously, “help” the opponent into a tug-of-war, and then deliver the finishing blow when the opponent loses patience and reveals an opening.
The summoning of experienced central defenders such as Duy Manh, Thanh Chung, Thanh Binh, and Viet Anh shows that Mr. Kim only needs “skilled” defenders to maintain a strong defensive fortress. On the offensive line, spearheads rich in speed and technique such as Quang Hai, Vi Hao, and Van Toan will have a more comfortable place to play, as Indonesia often pushes the team high, leading to exposing space behind them.
If the match against Laos was an exercise in ball control and attack, then the epic match with Indonesia will be a test of the perseverance and fighting spirit of Mr. Kim Sang-sik and his team.
