AFF Cup: Time to hide cards is over, Vietnam will be very different in the semi-finals against Singapore

The Vietnamese team has not yet reached its full potential

The performance of the Vietnamese team in the group stage of AFF Cup 2024 cannot be said to be satisfying. Because in addition to the 5-0 victory over Myanmar in the final match, in the remaining matches, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team struggled to get points, even having to wait for luck to escape defeat.

For example, in the match against Laos, the Vietnamese team was stuck for nearly an hour with disjointed play and a lack of ideas. Mr. Kim’s students also won against Indonesia thanks to Quang Hai’s flashy moment, in a match where the opponent’s young team could also make it difficult for Vietnam’s attackers.

In the match against the Philippines, the goal came from a mistake… falling from the sky by the opponent’s goalkeeper at the last minute.

However, it is necessary to reiterate coach Kim Sang-sik’s point of view: winning is the most important. Even though the Vietnamese team is not playing well, the Vietnamese team is still top of the table, or even though the team is top of the table, the Vietnamese team is not playing well? Just like the story of saying the glass of water is only half full or the glass of water is still half full. Pessimism or optimism depends on perspective. Just need to emphasize one detail that despite many flaws in the gameplay, the Vietnamese team still reached the top target.

Even when winning the AFF Cup 2018 during coach Park Hang-seo’s peak period, the Vietnamese team also had unconvincing matches. But, the important thing in playgrounds like the AFF Cup is not to win a match, but also to win the entire tournament.

For teams with ambitions to reach the finals like Vietnam, strategy is as important as tactics. Coach Kim Sang-sik’s goal is not to play beautifully or well to crush a specific opponent. It’s about trying to win the battle, maintaining full strength and physical strength to plan for the next matches. With a short tournament like the AFF Cup, it’s normal to have to think about the next match before finishing this match. Mr. Kim affirmed: “Talking about strategy, we even have a plan for the finals.”

In the context of having to play 4 matches in 12 days, the performance of the Vietnamese team was at an acceptable level. The kick wasn’t excellent, but it was enough to win the match. And public opinion’s harsh view of the national team actually has good intentions. Because many people believe that with their current strength, the Vietnamese team can still be better.

Waiting for Mr. Kim’s talent

The knockout format in the semi-finals and finals will be very different from the group stage, where any mistake can lead to a very expensive price. Mistakes in these matches will no longer have a chance to be corrected like in the group stage. That requires coach Kim Sang-sik to fully develop his lessons and tactics.

In the group stage, Mr. Kim continuously rotated the squad, when no player started all 4 matches. The positions all have very flexible continuity and replacement depending on the opponent, even depending on the progress of the match.

The highlight of the Vietnamese team is that although they did not score in the first half, they played effectively in the second half, especially in the last 20 minutes of the match. That is proof that the players adapt well to the flow of the match to exploit their opponents’ weaknesses. Coach Kim Sang-sik also applies many different football pieces to his students, making the Vietnamese team difficult to predict.

Thanks to Mr. Kim’s rotation strategy, the players have maintained a good physical foundation despite going through a busy schedule. Thanks to that, the entire team will be more energetic than Singapore, whose opponents will have to strain themselves to plow through the group stage with an almost unique lineup.

When the opportunity has come together in terms of people, physical strength and fighting style, it’s time for the Vietnamese team to showcase their best. There is no need to hide your cards anymore when the strength of the teams is clearly shown. Bringing all the essence to play 2 fair matches with Singapore with everything they have, the Vietnamese team will have a ticket to the finals.