Waiting for a miracle at Al Thumama Stadium

THE STRANGE "CLOSE"

How should the Vietnamese team prepare for the No. 1 team in Asia, Japan, who have won 10 consecutive matches, scoring 45 goals, including 21 goals in the last 4 matches? The reasonable advice would be to look back at history. Strangely enough, despite the gap of 77 places on the FIFA rankings, in 4 meetings since 2011, the Japanese team (ranked 17th) has only scored 1 goal/match against the Vietnamese team (ranked 94th). Specifically, the team nicknamed "Samurai Blue" has had 3 minimum 1-0 victories, most recently a 1-1 draw at Saitama Stadium on March 29, 2022. That is a huge contrast to the 5-0 destruction against the 2022 AFF Cup champion Thailand, or the 6-1 against the Jordan team in early January.

So, what difference has made the Vietnamese team always avoid losing, only losing by a narrow margin or even drawing with a team that is ambitious to be in the top of the world like Japan?

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Vietnam team players will be under great pressure against Japan team.

Commentator Ngo Quang Tung said: "The Japanese team crushed many other teams, but when they met the Vietnamese team and did not win by much, there could be some related factors that repeat, but not necessarily because we are too good. Rationally, the possibility of them winning big against us in the upcoming match is possible. But from my perspective, one of the advantages of the Vietnamese team is meeting the Japanese team in the first match, when they are not "warmed up". Of course, there is a possibility that the Japanese team will experiment, although not much. But the opportunity for the Vietnamese team lies in the fact that Japan may not have been able to use their full capacity according to long-term calculations".

"HEAT RESISTANT" ABILITY

The biggest difference for the Vietnamese team in their fourth meeting with the Japanese team in five years is that coach Philippe Troussier does not have the most combative squad that has brought many victories. In theory, the Vietnamese team will still maintain 2/3 of the starting lineup in the 2026 World Cup qualifying matches. Coach Troussier's biggest question is how to prepare the young U.23 Vietnamese players best, to be ready to "bear the heat" against the team with the most terrible form in Asia in particular, and the top team in the world in general.

Al Thumama Stadium

Commentator Ngo Quang Tung commented: "In terms of reason, the difference between the Vietnamese team and the Japanese team is huge, especially when Mr. Troussier lost his best players. But Coach Troussier's way of doing things is to create readiness for the players, without any difference or distinction between each player.

Frankly speaking, the chance for the Vietnamese team to create an earthquake, although very small, is always there. The most expected scenario is that we create trouble for them, playing passionate and "mysterious" football as coach Troussier mentioned to at least get a point.

It is the only chance, because the big guys usually start slowly, while we still keep the mystery factor. But as I said, it will be a "terrifying" miracle if the Vietnamese team defeats the championship candidate.

In fact, even if the Japanese team wins with a 2-3 goal difference, it is still normal. The important thing is that Coach Troussier will "borrow" the match against this giant to create an opportunity for the young players to hone their skills.

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What I expect is not necessarily the result but the spirit and organization in the playing style under the great pressure of the Japanese team. Let's see whether the young players can confidently and boldly deploy their playing style against the number 1 candidate for the 2023 Asian Cup championship.

We all expect the Vietnamese team to be able to create a surprise and get points against the Japanese team. That is the ultimate challenge, and also an opportunity for this team to transform, before looking forward to the second match, which is also the most important for the Indonesian team."

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