Against the "high-dose test" Syria, Coach Troussier used almost the strongest lineup. The red shirts actively controlled the ball, pressed the opponent right on the away field and coordinated quite coherently. That was thanks to the mobility of the trio Quang Hai - Cong Phuong - Van Tung in the front line; the ability to recover the ball and escape the pressing of the duo Thai Son - Tuan Anh and the times Van Hau and Van Thanh advanced on both sides.
However, the Vietnamese team still lacks a "lethal" final pass and has not improved its ability to take advantage of opportunities when facing a strong and solid defense like Syria. Van Tung and Cong Phuong missed two good chances in the first half despite finishing from an unmarked position.
Tuan Hai (18) scored for the Vietnamese team after entering the field at the beginning of the second half. Photo: NHAN VAN
When the set-pieces did not bring results, the Vietnamese team also tried to create breakthroughs from long-range shots - one of the weaknesses of Vietnamese football - but were unsuccessful.
Only when coach Troussier sent Tuan Hai and Tien Anh onto the field at the beginning of the second half to replace Cong Phuong and Van Thanh, the home team was able to break the deadlock thanks to the coordination and finishing that the French coach wanted: Thai Son won the ball right on the Syrian team's field and Tuan Hai lightly touched the ball with his left foot, then turned and shot from close to the 16.50m mark, scoring the only goal of the match.
Overcoming Syria with a modern style of play is a positive result for Coach Troussier and his team. However, the road to improving the level of the Vietnamese team and the next generation as well as aiming for a ticket to the 2026 World Cup finals is still full of thorns. This challenge requires the players to create harmony, understand the new coach's style and maintain their physical strength in high-density tournaments. Moreover, the team still needs a striker like Tien Linh...
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