Step back, to find out who you are…

Đảng Cộng Sản•23/03/2024

At opposite ends of the spectrum, there's the longing for the past, when fans look to Coach Park Hang-seo as a (real) model of success whenever they face teams in Southeast Asia. There are things that are easy to criticize or question about the French strategist's approach to the Vietnamese national team. Regarding personnel, Coach Troussier puzzles experts by still calling up a number of key players from Coach Park's era, but not using them as successors. While it's true that young players are indispensable in the development of any football system, using them in "cooking furnaces" like World Cup qualifiers is a different matter. If we assume that the national league is the driving force, the basis for evaluating, selecting, and building the strength of the national team, then even the way the coach born in Paris chooses his players has caused much controversy. Whether a player is considered the best or not, unless it's based on the current form and position of their respective clubs in the V-League, is purely subjective.

Furthermore, regarding the playing style, the approach that the Vietnamese team is pursuing has generated a great deal of conflicting opinions. Coach Troussier's ball-possession and full-field pressing style has a modern feel to it, but it's also a weakness that opponents can easily exploit. In this respect, Coach Shin Tae-yong clearly recognized the opponent's weakness. Just a slight change on the left wing was enough to catch Vietnam off guard. By the time Vietnam needed to push forward, Indonesia had had enough time to stabilize their formation, thereby neutralizing any adjustments made by Coach Troussier.

Is it fair to suggest that failures like these are the reason for the VFF to replace the coach? Is it reasonable to assume that the decline of the national team is inevitable and irreversible, despite the best efforts of the young players? Remember, when Mr. Park arrived in Vietnam, how many people knew him, believed in him, and understood his football philosophy? Despite resounding successes, especially in Southeast Asia, except for the epic victory in Changzhou, we can all see that Vietnam is still nothing when bringing a completely defensive style of play to the Asian stage. But the continental powerhouses are no strangers to that style of play; its modernity and flexibility will help them more easily impose themselves on weaker opponents who use outdated tactical approaches.

Above all, let's be fair to Troussier, just as we were fair to Mr. Park in the early days. The tradition of respecting teachers and mentors cannot be sacrificed for failures, however painful. Nor can trust be easily lost, even when obvious things create crises and new things fail to generate the understanding they deserve.

In true "gentlemanly" style, Coach Troussier is drawing criticism for his optimistic statements to the press, and even his courteous behavior towards the opposing team's coaching staff and players after Vietnam's defeat. This is something we don't often see when compared to Coach Park's assertiveness in the past. But is that wrong, when the defeated side dares to accept the rules of the beautiful game , full of glory but also fraught with inner turmoil?

On July 13, 1998, when L'Equipe published a picture of Zidane and Djorkaeff on its front page with the World Cup trophy and the caption "Forever," they also officially apologized to coach Aime Jacque, who "dared" to leave both stars Cantona and Ginola out of Les Bleus without any explanation.

"Saint Aime"—as she is known by the French people—also said: "I am willing to step back."

To know who you are...

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