Coach Philippe Troussier determined to change the face of the Vietnam national team

In early June, Coach Troussier called up the Vietnam national team to prepare for two international friendly matches. This is an opportunity to shape the Vietnam national team under the hands of the French head coach.

Với việc gọi số lượng lớn các cầu thủ mới chơi ở hàng tiền vệ, HLV Philippe Troussier hứa hẹn sẽ tạo ra sự mới mẻ đáng chờ đợi ở tuyển Việt Nam. (Nguồn: TTXVN)

By calling up a large number of new players to play in midfield, coach Philippe Troussier promises to create a new and exciting atmosphere in the Vietnam team. (Source: VNA)

Revolution in midfield

Ball control and proactive attack will be the main philosophy that the 68-year-old French coach is building for the Vietnam team. By calling up a large number of new players to play in midfield, coach Philippe Troussier promises to create a new and awaited look for the Vietnam team.

Coach Troussier has called up the Vietnam national team to prepare for two international friendly matches against Hong Kong (China) and Syria, all attention is focused on the central midfield area. These are always positions that create great competition and contain surprises in the team's playing style.

Under coach Park Hang-seo, this area is almost the default for some faces. On the contrary, with new names, coach Troussier will certainly make adjustments. Some players have asserted themselves such as Hoang Duc, Tuan Anh, Ngoc Quang, Xuan Manh, Trong Long, Viet Hung, Thanh Long are new factors. In which, Xuan Manh, Trong Long tend to play sweeping, effectively recover the ball and create a transition for the home team. Meanwhile, Viet Hung, Thanh Long are players who can be flexible in the lowest position of the midfield, but can move up in the role of organizer or direct attack. These are the type of players who play in a wide range of activities. Ngoc Quang always plays well if he is placed in the role of an attacking midfielder.

Hoang Duc, Hai Huy and Tuan Anh are all highly skilled midfielders who have contributed a lot to the club's style of play in recent times. However, their performances at the club do not mean they will be suitable for the style of play of the coach nicknamed "The White Witch".

Mobility is something that the French strategist values, if looking at the 2023 SEA Games. In fact, before the tournament in Cambodia started, few people thought that the central midfielder pair born in 2003, Nguyen Thai Son and Nguyen Duc Phu, could take the starting position in the midfield of U22 Vietnam. Before that, Mr. Troussier often had the habit of choosing central midfielders with good ball control ability such as Huynh Cong Den and Le Quoc Nhat Nam in his familiar 3-4-3 formation. Thai Son and Duc Phu convinced the coaching staff with their ability to operate at high frequency and the balance they brought to the team.

With their mobility and high fighting spirit, young midfielders like Thanh Long and Trong Long can completely squeeze into coach Troussier's squad in the upcoming matches of the Vietnam team.

Public goods test

The attack is where the French coach must test his ability the most through the next two friendly matches. Because other key strikers such as Tien Linh and Tuan Hai are declining a lot compared to themselves. Tien Linh did not score his first goal until round 9 of V-League 2023. Tuan Hai has only scored 2 goals since the beginning of the season. The rookie who was called up to the Vietnam national team for the first time by coach Troussier, Nham Manh Dung, has only scored 1 goal after 9 appearances.

In this training session, for the first time, Coach Troussier has called back 3 attacking players who are playing abroad: Quang Hai (Pau FC, France), Cong Phuong (Yokohama FC, Japan) and Nguyen Van Toan (Seoul E-Land, Korea).

The names of these three attacking stars are not to be discussed. However, their lack of playing time recently is clearly a question mark. Quang Hai has not been allowed to play for Pau FC since March. Cong Phuong is still waiting for his first appearance for Yokohama FC in the Japanese First Division.

Although they only gather for a few days and play friendly matches with opponents ranked lower in the FIFA rankings, the team's appearance will take shape from these first small steps. The performance of the players at Mr. Troussier's club is also the fairest measure, showing that the team's door is always open to everyone.

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