Ticket fever to watch the Vietnamese team: When love burns again

After a period of great success with coach Park Hang-seo, Vietnam’s football field experienced years of… sadness every time the national team played. That is the legacy of the crisis under coach Philippe Troussier, with the ultimate disappointment being a series of 7 consecutive defeats for the Vietnamese team lasting from the 2023 Asian Cup to the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The stands that were once filled with spectators became deserted and desolate. The Vietnamese team played against Iraq, the Philippines and then played friendly matches with Russia and Thailand in the context that the number of people coming to watch was less than half of the capacity.

To say that fans are disappointed because the team lost is… not really. In previous difficult periods, such as the era of coach Toshiya Miura (2014 – 2016) or the era of coach Nguyen Huu Thang (2016 – 2017), the Vietnamese team also had matches full of fans, when fans had to line up. Very long queue to get tickets to enter the stadium. It’s not just about results, it’s about performance and emotion.

The period from 2023 to the end of 2024 is the time when the Vietnamese team lost confidence, because fans no longer saw the fire of enthusiasm. Because of the generational transition when familiar faces are no longer present? Because the football philosophy does not “fit” viewers, because the emotions the Vietnamese team brings are not as complete as in the beginning?

There are many reasons, but during those difficult years, the players understood that the fans’ love is not unconditional. Fans only love and believe when they see players really fighting for their colors.

The crisis made the Vietnamese team lose confidence, but brought a lesson: the whole team must make efforts to bring the audience back to the football field, so that tickets to watch the team become more valuable. As coach Fabio Capello once said: “Respect does not come naturally, but one has to earn it.”

The only way to win is to dedicate yourself on the field, trying to the last drop of sweat. Fans spend money to “enjoy” football products. They are very fair, so as long as the players try sincerely, the stands full of fans will be recognized.

Does the Vietnamese team still have shortcomings in their playing style? Correct. Coach Kim Sang-sik’s students have not attacked well, but their defense is still lax? Correct. Haven’t been able to clearly define a playing philosophy? It’s not wrong.

But, why is Viet Tri Stadium still full of fans, why is every ticket sold out as soon as it comes out, why are there fans willing to endure the winter cold to wait in line to get the chance to enter the stadium? Because just like coach Park Hang-seo, or sometimes under previous managers, fans saw the effort. Fans see players who, although not perfect, are always trying to improve. The audience saw the national team truly throwing themselves into the fight for honor and the national flag. Fans are willing to accept imperfection, as long as the players keep trying.

That’s what the Vietnamese team has done, even though it’s just the beginning, even though it’s just glimmers of fire after two “cold” years. But, trust is being restored. The fans came to the stadium, the manager was also excited and willing to reward the players (like Hien awarded 2 billion VND, or Acecook and Dong Luc awarded 1.5 billion VND), hotter tickets…

All this just shows that the attraction of the Vietnamese team has returned. Although there is still a long journey ahead, believe that every journey begins with small steps. If you work hard to gather faith, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team will find sweet results.