Vietnam Team: Don't let the fans turn their backs!

Following the recent string of defeats for the Vietnamese national team under coach Troussier, what worries many people most is not the fate of the French coach, but the indifference and turning away of Vietnamese football fans towards their national team.

In recent comments published in Thanh Nien newspaper, many readers have expressed their lack of enthusiasm for the Vietnamese national team's upcoming matches, regardless of the outcome. This sentiment was evident on the evening of the first leg match between Indonesia and Vietnam, when cafes in Ho Chi Minh City were rather quiet and deserted, a stark contrast to the crowded establishments two or three years ago, with national flags flying everywhere and the cheers of fans echoing throughout.

Vietnamese football fans at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium (Indonesia) during the first leg match, March 21.

Phuc Thang

A small survey conducted by Thanh Nien Newspaper alone showed that out of 1,688 people polled (as of 6 PM on March 23rd) regarding the outcome of the return match between the Vietnamese national team and Indonesia at My Dinh Stadium, 1,115 believed Vietnam would lose. Only 381 believed Vietnam would win, and 192 predicted a draw. From these facts, it's clear that Vietnamese football fans are deeply disappointed with the team's performance under coach Troussier . They are frustrated by the playing style and feel indignant at the way Vietnam loses to opponents, as these teams aren't significantly better than Vietnam. Another factor contributing to this growing disillusionment among fans is that coach Troussier talks more than he acts. Remember in the press conference before the first leg against Indonesia, Mr. Troussier claimed that his team had accumulated enough experience and practical skills. At the 2023 Asian Cup, although the Vietnamese team didn't achieve their desired goals, they still gained something. But when the match took place, all the accumulated experience he spoke of before the game was nowhere to be seen; instead, the Vietnamese team conceded goals in exactly the same way as before against Indonesia. Specifically, the throw-in that led to Egy Maulana's only goal. However, in the post-match press conference, Mr. Troussier claimed, "We practiced this situation many times…". I don't know what kind of practice they did, but they still lost…

Coach Troussier needs a change.

Vietnamese football fans have always loved their national team passionately, loving both its strength and its weakness. They can experience pain, then excitement, and overwhelming joy. But the style of football that Coach Troussier is implementing has turned the Vietnamese national team into something soulless and meaningless. Vietnamese football has changed too quickly in the past year, from a freefall from 94th to 105th (and possibly 112th) in the FIFA rankings, to losing 9 out of the last 10 matches, including 5 consecutive losses – losing every tournament they've played. In those 5 consecutive defeats, the Vietnamese team only scored 5 goals while conceding 12, a freefall. Losses can be recovered through victories, but once faith is lost and the passion of football fans cools, it takes a very long time to regain it.

Thanhnien.vn

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