Testing young players

* PRE-MATCH ANALYSIS

The attitude towards the game is important.

We learned a lesson about not having good emotional balance when facing Portugal. The final match at the 2023 Women's World Cup against the Netherlands will also present different challenges, as we have already been officially eliminated. If we don't manage the psychological aspect well, the team will fall into a state of resignation, following the "it's over, let's just go home" mentality. That's a basic psychological and emotional reaction for anyone. But perhaps for each member of the Vietnamese women's team, their thoughts and motivations will be very different.

The Vietnamese women's national team has grown stronger through failures.

Although not entirely successful in the two matches played so far, the golden girls of Vietnamese football have shown their opponents and football fans worldwide their courageous spirit, their efforts, and their incredible desire to compete. We showed the reigning champions, the USA, and the rising stars, Portugal, our tight and effective defense, and the strength of our team spirit. Even though, technically, we are inferior to our opponents in every aspect: physique, fitness, individual technical skills, and awareness of modern tactics, our desire and determination to overcome difficulties are truly remarkable qualities that the world will likely remember for a long time.

In the final group stage match, the Vietnamese women's team needs to maintain that mindset. What we need is not just a positive result against the Netherlands, but to show the world that we can rise after defeats, how steadfast and determined we can be when facing a top-ranked opponent. We need to show what we have learned and how we have grown through these failures.

It's time to give opportunities to the younger generation.

In the two matches played so far, coach Mai Duc Chung has used six players in defense, about six in midfield, and Hai Yen and Huynh Nhu have alternated in the attacking positions. There has also been a mix of veteran players and promising young talents in Vietnamese women's football. Players from the 2000s generation like Thu Thuong, Thanh Nha, Hai Linh… have had the opportunity to experience the World Cup atmosphere, and some have even been in the starting lineup. But there are still Van Su, Vu Thi Hoa, and Thuy Hang..., players who are predicted to shoulder the responsibilities left by their predecessors in the national team in the near future.

Vietnamese women's football once boasted a "diamond generation" with players like Kim Thanh, Chương Thị Kiều, Tuyết Dung, Huỳnh Như, Bích Thùy, Thùy Trang, Hoàng Thị Loan, and Hải Yến. These outstanding players helped Vietnam win four consecutive SEA Games championships, reach the quarterfinals of the Asian Cup, and qualify for the World Cup for the first time. It's a massive record of achievements and a miraculous journey. However, most members of this generation have passed the age of 30, entering the twilight of their careers. Many female players have considered retiring from the national team after the World Cup.

Thanh Nha (19) is typical of the next generation of Vietnamese women's football.

The story of "old trees giving way to new shoots" and succession in the national team is perhaps inevitable in the world of football. Vietnamese women's football has been very good, once topping the Southeast Asian region. But without thorough preparation and a scientific , systematic succession plan, we could fall into a situation of manpower shortage and crisis. Therefore, the final match against the Netherlands women's team will be a great opportunity for coach Mai Duc Chung to test and assess the quality of the next generation.

The future of Vietnamese women's football belongs to the younger generation, and if they have the opportunity to experience the atmosphere and level of the World Cup, and gain practical lessons from very strong opponents like the Dutch women's team, it will certainly be an extremely useful asset for them on the challenging yet proud journey ahead.

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