* PRE-MATCH ANALYSIS
The 0-4 defeat against the Iranian Olympic team left many disappointed. While the opponent was clearly superior in experience and tactical skills, the Vietnamese Olympic team could have played much better. If they had managed to keep the deficit at 3 goals or less, the door to the next round would have been much wider. Excluding the result against bottom-placed Mongolia (as Group D only has 3 teams), the Vietnamese Olympic team currently has a significant advantage.
With 0 points and a goal difference of -4, Vietnam is currently ranked 4th out of 5 third-placed teams in their respective groups. Their best chance right now is to compete for a wildcard spot with Myanmar – who have the same points and goal difference, only one yellow card behind us. In Group A, Myanmar also has the same points and goal difference as India, so if these two teams decide a winner in the final match, it will open up more options for the Vietnamese Olympic team. If Myanmar draws with India, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan's team will be forced to get points against Saudi Arabia.
The Vietnamese Olympic team needs points against Saudi Arabia to qualify for the next round.
The atmosphere within the Vietnamese Olympic team has become more subdued after the loss to Iran. Following favorable results such as winning the Southeast Asian U23 Championship and securing a ticket to the 2024 Asian U23 Championship, our young players suffered a heavy defeat against a strong opponent. The one-day break allowed them time to reflect and review the lessons the coaching staff had warned them about. "Many of us are feeling regretful, because everyone knows we could have done better in the first two matches. We not only missed many opportunities, but also made things difficult for ourselves with unnecessary goals conceded and yellow cards. In major tournaments, every small detail is extremely important, and no one can afford to be complacent or careless. That's a big lesson for each of us," one player shared.
On the evening of September 22nd, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong and Director of the Department of Sports and Physical Education, also Head of the Vietnamese sports delegation at ASIAD Dang Ha Viet, visited and encouraged the Vietnamese Olympic team. This timely attention warmed the hearts of many players, who trained enthusiastically despite the persistent drizzle in Jiangnan. On September 23rd, the opening day of the tournament, the Vietnamese Olympic team held their first morning training session at ASIAD 19, with renewed spirit and enthusiasm, evident in their smiles.
The Vietnamese Olympic team trains in the rain.
Coach Hoang Anh Tuan expressed: "I hope to go further with my players at ASIAD 19 not for the sake of achievement, but so that the very young players of the Vietnamese Olympic team can gain more experience and improve their skills. This is also our main goal when participating in ASIAD with a team mainly consisting of U.20 players. I told the whole team that the team's task is to focus on playing well, trying our best so that no matter the result, we will have no regrets later."
The Vietnamese Olympic team will be without Mạnh Dũng due to an eye injury, and center-back Đức Anh is suspended. Tuấn Tài has returned to training but his chances of playing are quite slim. Nam Hải was brought on by coach Tuấn in the match against Iran to get a feel for the game against Saudi Arabia. "The door is still very narrow, but in football nothing is impossible. Saudi Arabia is strong but seemed to be at a disadvantage in the match against Iran. The Vietnamese Olympic team can still play better, they just lack experience. What the players need to do is shake off their self-doubt, put aside the pressure of getting points, and play comfortably. I believe the players have learned valuable lessons from the past, and are determined to fight for the honor of the Fatherland," coach Tuấn affirmed.
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