Coach Troussier is unlucky, the Vietnamese team is both lacking and weak.

Before entering the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, the Vietnamese team faces a major challenge related to its force. A series of key players are absent due to injury, leading to major changes in all three lines in the squad to compete with the Philippines and Iraq.

Coach Troussier is unlucky.

The defeats against strong opponents China, Uzbekistan and South Korea have increased the pressure on coach Philippe Troussier. He and his students will enter the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, no longer test matches. This is also the key front in the target for the French strategist, when he signed a contract to be the head coach of the Vietnamese team.

Coach Troussier faced many difficulties, partly due to bad luck. (Photo: VFF)

However, right before the crucial moment, Coach Troussier was unlucky. A series of injuries in recent times caused the Vietnamese team to lose key players in the French coach's plans.

The most obvious impact is on the left-back position. Doan Van Hau - the best face in this corridor of Vietnamese football in recent years continues to have to recover from an injury. This player may take up to half a year to recover and will most likely miss the Asian Cup taking place in early January.

In the center-back position, Que Ngoc Hai is having to practice separately and is not sure to be able to participate in the match against the Philippines on November 16. Another center-back favored by Coach Troussier, Do Duy Manh, unexpectedly missed the last minute due to a traffic accident.

On the attack line, Mr. Troussier also did not have the presence of star Nguyen Quang Hai. An injury in the internal match against Uzbekistan on October 13 caused the midfielder born in 1995 to be out of action for the past month.

Having lost four key players, the healthy faces that Mr. Troussier could summon have not yet reached good form, especially in the attack. No striker of the Vietnamese team has scored in the V.League 2023/2024.

Coach Troussier managed

The Vietnamese team entering the 2026 World Cup qualifiers is not the "strong army" version. In the hands of Mr. Troussier is a broken force and declining in performance, not yet stable in the new style of play. The French coach must show his talent in handling things.

The injuries of Duy Manh and Ngoc Hai are the final catalyst to create a completely different defense for the Vietnamese team from the previous era. The trio of central defenders and full-backs who were "hardcore" under coach Park Hang Seo will disappear.

Que Ngoc Hai and Do Duy Manh's injuries mean that the familiar defenders under coach Park Hang Seo no longer play as starters in the Vietnam national team.

The best choice for Mr. Troussier to fill the two lost positions is Bui Hoang Viet Anh and Nguyen Thanh Binh. In fact, this duo played well together at the 31st SEA Games and the 2022 World Cup qualifiers before. They need a turning point to rise up to take the position of their seniors and this is such an opportunity.

Van Hau's injury and Nguyen Phong Hong Duy's lack of trust opened up opportunities for Vo Minh Trong to continue to show himself. Coach Troussier also tried Trieu Viet Hung in this role. However, both options were not effective. The most notable point of the Vietnamese team on this side was the launching of... Phan Tuan Tai from the left center-back position.

On the opposite side, Pham Xuan Manh is performing well for Hanoi FC and the return of Vu Van Thanh will create competition. Truong Tien Anh is Mr. Troussier's favorite option but he has not had convincing performances.

In attack, Pham Tuan Hai is sure to have a starting position. He has not scored in the V.League but has performed well recently. Coach Troussier has also shown his trust in this striker. However, the remaining attacking positions will give the French coach a "headache".

Overall, in the upcoming two matches against the Philippines and Iraq, the Vietnamese team will continue to play and try. Fans have reason to worry and doubt the ability of coach Troussier and his team to gain points in the context of an incomplete squad and playing style, and many unfortunate losses.

Xuan Phuong

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