Expert: Coach Troussier lost control, VFF should change

"This is a completely deserved defeat," commented commentator Ngo Quang Tung bitterly.

The Vietnamese team lost to Indonesia twice in less than 3 months, leaving fans extremely disappointed. If they cannot defeat their opponents from the archipelago in the return match on March 26 at home, the goal of passing the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup for the Vietnamese team will be considered a failure.

Another loss and fans will no longer have enough patience with coach Philippe Troussier and neither should the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

Indonesia 1-0 Vietnam.

Wrong strategy, unreasonable tactics

- The Vietnamese team lost to Indonesia away from home with a goal from a mistake by the defense, while the offense did not have a single shot on target.

The Vietnamese team did not have the right goals and a suitable plan for a crucial match. Everyone knows how difficult it is to play at Bung Karno Stadium and we have not won there yet. Moreover, the situation of the Vietnamese team and the opponent is in opposite directions. The Vietnamese team needs a safe solution.

However, the overall approach and way of solving the problem shows that the Vietnamese team does not have the right plan. When losing, the Vietnamese team has no backup plan. Coach Troussier's use of people has many things to worry about.

The preparation of tactics, anti-high balls and other factors have all been done. Vo Minh Trong's mistake was an accident. However, when the opponent made a change, the Vietnamese team did not react. Coach Troussier made an unconvincing and unreasonable substitution and had no solution when losing.

Coach Troussier encountered many difficulties.

- Coach Troussier trusts young players, but there are students who play continuously but cannot repay that trust with good performances.

Using young players is an unsuccessful project. That way of using players is only considered reasonable and successful when the results are good, or at least the players have to complete the task. The fault lies with the whole team, not with any individual, but the fault that makes the Vietnam team always appear from the position of the young people that Mr. Troussier gives the opportunity.

This further increases the feeling that Coach Troussier is using players unconvincingly, I don't want to use the word unreasonable. There are arenas where experimentation is allowed, such as friendly matches, but in the 2023 Asian Cup, there are no players so young players must be used. However, facing Indonesia at this time is a key match, the story is very different.

Why do we have to force the use of young players? Phan Tuan Tai and Minh Trong's wing should only use one young player, need one experienced player. However, this is just a subjective suggestion, in the coach's mind, they have their own data but looking at what is on the field, everything is fragile.

At the end of the first half, the Vietnamese team began to leave gaps for the opponent to exploit. The Indonesian team did not have any dangerous shots. But the left wing was especially weak. There was no change, losing in the second half was just a consequence.

- The Indonesian team is not good, but the Vietnamese team is even worse?

That's right. Many people were shocked after watching the first half of the match against Vietnam at the 2023 Asian Cup and thought that they were superior to Vietnam. This is an incorrect assessment. The Indonesian team is different from the past. Their discipline, physique, fitness, and playing intensity are better than before, but they are not much better than the Vietnamese team.

When the Vietnamese team played with more rhythm, the Indonesian team could not control the match. It is true that the home team was better and won, but to say that they are on a different level than us is not true.

The failure mainly came from the poor performance of the Vietnamese team. Even when playing at their best, the Vietnamese team still played incoherently and had no shots on target.

The strikers could not come up with a plan to finish the game. When losing, the Vietnamese team could not see a way to equalize.

If they don't win the second leg, VFF should change the coach.

- How will the second leg play out?

Honestly speaking, it is difficult to imagine a good result for the Vietnamese team in the second leg. It is very difficult to play at this time, when the Vietnamese team has to attack and win from a corner.

The Indonesian team just needs to play a disruptive style. We may not be able to overcome this barrier.

There are two problems. The Vietnamese team is mentally heavy, eliminating negative energy is not easy. Regarding the playing system, it can be affirmed that Coach Troussier has not yet defined it.

The idea of playing the ball on the opponent's side has not been perfected in any match so far, even when winning against the Philippines or in a friendly.

This is what makes fans confused. In terms of results, the Vietnamese team could still win thanks to a penalty, for example, but that doesn't tell the truth.

I'm just talking about the gameplay and the possibility of a draw. It's hard to organize a good match at this time, the winning rate is very low. If we had entered the match with the right mindset from the first leg, we would have been more relaxed now.

The Vietnamese team is in a difficult position entering the second leg.

- Why does Mr. Troussier still try to argue with public opinion?

This is a question that many people ask. I don't understand Coach Troussier's problem. He always talks about other people not supporting him. Is this the reason Coach Troussier uses to call for spirit, to arouse the players' will? Or, Mr. Troussier wants to say that he is working for the common good but everyone is against him, not receiving support. It is very difficult to explain.

- If the Vietnamese team does not win against Indonesia in the second leg, is it inevitable that coach Troussier will leave?

I think VFF must make a change. After the 2023 Asian Cup, everyone predicts that the 2 matches against Indonesia will decide the future of Coach Troussier.

If the Vietnamese team only has 1 point, VFF must change. If it is a draw, the Vietnamese team will hardly have a chance to reach the 3rd qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia. We just hope to reach the 3rd qualifying round.

If the results are not as expected, VFF must build another roadmap. Coach Troussier's idea is good, but the implementation and results have slipped out of control. Don't let things go further. The national team losing too much will affect the general atmosphere.

- Thanks for your analysis.