“For me, each match is different, depending on the opponent because the teams have different abilities and tactics,” coach Troussier opened the press conference before the match against Iraq.
“My task and the whole team’s is to adjust the way we play to deal with the opponent, we have prepared well and will try our best. I hope that with the home field advantage, the Vietnamese team will receive enthusiastic cheers from the audience in the stands. I hope the Iraqi team will feel the pressure that they are not only playing with 11 men on the field but also have to resist the pressure from 30,000, 40,000 spectators.”
Coach Troussier attended a press conference before the match with Iraq (Photo: Do Minh Quan).
Assessing the strength of the Iraqi team, Coach Troussier said: “In my career, I have faced Iraq many times, especially during my time leading the Qatar team. During my time working in Vietnam, I and U23 Vietnam played against U23 Iraq at the Doha Cup 2023. For tomorrow's match, the Iraqi team is rated higher, they have many players playing in Europe in their squad.”
“In the past, Iraq won the Asian championship. However, I told my players to make it difficult for their opponents. I think being underestimated will give the Vietnamese team an advantage, because the players will enter the match with the spirit of having nothing to lose and the desire to prove the team's strength. I see that the players' confidence has increased after the victory over the Philippines, the players will try their best for the match against Iraq.”
Coach Jesus Casas is Slovenian, 50 years old this year and will start leading Iraq from 2022. Compared with his colleague on the front line, Coach Troussier said:
“Coach Casas and I are both from Europe. The difference is that I have worked in many places around the world , and have coached many big tournaments such as the World Cup or Copa America.”
“With experience working in many places around the world, I can flexibly adjust tactics to make a difference. We have in common a style of play that emphasizes ball control, because when we control the ball, the opponent cannot attack us. I consider ball control to be the best defense.”
“Vietnamese players have skills and tactical discipline, which is an important foundation for building a ball control style of play. At the moment, the players must have more confidence, only then can we compete with top teams.”
Coach Troussier affirmed that he wants the Vietnamese team to play a ball control style (Photo: Do Minh Quan).
Regarding the view that the Vietnamese team has not fielded its strongest lineup in the match against the Philippines, Coach Troussier said: “My way of working is to select players based on their current ability, not their past reputation. I select according to the situation and the opponent to achieve the best results. For example, a striker is not only responsible for scoring goals but also has to contribute to the overall play of the team. In a match, it is normal to have a starter and a substitute. I would like to emphasize that I do not select players based on their reputation, but select the lineup based on the situation.”
In the past, the Vietnamese team has never won against Iraq, but that does not worry coach Troussier.
“In football, the past is the past, and we are living in the present. For example, the French team won the 1998 World Cup but was eliminated in the group stage of the 2002 World Cup despite having a similar squad. I don’t want to talk about the history of confrontation between the Vietnamese and Iraqi teams, but only focus on the current job, how to maximize resources to promote strength and achieve the best results.”
“Tomorrow’s match is not the final but just a part of the series of matches in which the Vietnamese team aims to win one of the top two positions in the group to continue. The Vietnamese team has the advantage of having just won the Philippines and the support of the audience at My Dinh. I see that the players are 100% determined. If we make good use of all the advantages, along with adhering to tactical discipline, we can achieve good results.”
Dantri.com.vn
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