Vietnam women's team needs new players like Thanh Nha

The skillful chip over the head of the Myanmar goalkeeper in the final match of SEA Games 32 was one of the most beautiful moments of the Vietnamese women's team and young striker Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha in the tournament in Cambodia.

It was a goal that coach Mai Duc Chung admitted he "didn't dare believe was a goal" until the ball was in the net. Thanh Nha had a bold move typical of a young player: daring to think, daring to do and not afraid of breakthrough ideas.

Thanh Nha made remarkable progress at SEA Games 32

The boldness of the young striker who is playing for the Hanoi team comes from the right decision of coach Mai Duc Chung 3 years ago, when he promoted the youth to the Vietnam women's team right when the team was still at its peak with the core squad at its peak. The coaching staff nurtured young players to have solutions to prepare for the future, and Thanh Nha's brilliant performance was a worthy reward for the perseverance in planting trees to wait for the day to reap sweet fruit.

However, it must be frankly admitted that despite calling many "young shoots" to the Vietnam women's team, coach Mai Duc Chung has not found many potential young faces who have left a strong impression. At the 32nd SEA Games, besides Thanh Nha who left her mark, the women's team only had one other young talent trusted in the main squad, Tran Thi Hai Linh - a player who originally played as a midfielder at the club, but was pulled back to play as a center back by coach Chung thanks to her ability to read situations and pass the ball.

Another talent, Ngan Thi Van Su, also started from the U.19 team like Thanh Nha, has not yet affirmed her position despite scoring her first goals for the women's team. Vu Thi Hoa has not been able to play regularly at the SEA Games, despite winning the domestic top scorer title and the best young player award in 2022.

Seniors like Bich Thuy (number 15) or Huynh Nhu still play a pivotal role.

Among the young players that Mr. Chung put his trust in, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Ngan left many regrets. The striker of the Ho Chi Minh City team suffered an injury and missed important tournaments, most recently the 32nd SEA Games. Meanwhile, Luong Thi Thu Thuong, the young center back who played well with Chuong Thi Kieu in defense at the 31st SEA Games and the 2022 Asian Cup, has not regained her form due to knee problems.

Coach Mai Duc Chung once affirmed that mixing young players with experienced players is an art of using people. He wants to increase competition so that the pillars have to make efforts, while waiting for the young players to learn from their seniors to improve. However, at important moments, the team is still carried by familiar players such as Thuy Trang, Tuyet Dung, Huynh Nhu, ... As for the young talents, except for Thanh Nha, most of them have not left an impression, or have not yet secured a starting position in the squad.

Compared to the Southeast Asian level, the quality of the Vietnamese women's team is still good, ensuring the ability to continue to dominate the domestic arena in the next 3-4 years. Looking at regional rivals such as the Philippines (depending on overseas Filipinos), Myanmar (lack of experience) or Thailand (in transition), it is easy to see that the Vietnamese women's team is still the most balanced and stable.

But to step into the Asian arena, or further into the world , the Vietnamese women's team needs more young faces to overcome the current level limit. The 2023 World Cup is the playground that coach Mai Duc Chung and his team will participate in with a learning mindset, but the 19th ASIAD in Hangzhou (China) will be the right tournament for Vietnam to think about high achievements, besides the second qualifying round of the 2024 Paris Olympics where Huynh Nhu and her teammates are capable of creating surprises,...

Every transition requires patience. Hopefully, Coach Mai Duc Chung and his students will continue to make efforts to bring a new look and joy to the fans.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-nu-viet-nam-can-them-nhan-to-moi-nhu-thanh-nha-185230523084731517.htm