Vietnam team accepts heavy defeat in exchange for lessons

The Vietnamese team lost all three matches in the international friendly series in October. Coach Philippe Troussier's players failed to score any goals and conceded 10 times, with the 0-6 defeat being the heaviest defeat of the Vietnamese team in over 20 years.

The Vietnamese team's consecutive defeats in October are not surprising. China, Uzbekistan and South Korea are all top teams in Asia.

According to commentator Ngo Quang Tung, choosing strong opponents to play friendly matches when the Vietnamese team is not in the best condition is a risky calculation by coach Troussier and the professional team of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF). Failure and criticism are risks that the Vietnamese team must accept in order to see the problems and find solutions.

Vietnam team 0-6 Korea

- The Vietnamese team's heavy defeat to South Korea was not an unexpected result. Does losing to an opponent with such a big difference in class mean anything in terms of expertise?

The 0-6 score was not surprising. The level of the two teams was too different. This loss reflected the difference in class between the Vietnamese and Korean teams. However, I still saw a few things beyond the match result.

If it is only to prepare for the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia, playing a friendly match with the Korean team is redundant. They are nearly 70 places higher than us in the FIFA rankings. Meanwhile, in the second qualifying round, the opponents of the Vietnamese team are not as strong.

However, this is an important preparation for the Vietnamese team to aim for further challenges, such as the third qualifying round - if the Vietnamese team makes it. At that time, the team will definitely meet the strongest opponents in Asia. The players need to know what to do to meet the requirements at a high level.

The Vietnamese team learned many lessons from the loss to South Korea. (Photo: VFF)

- It can be said that the Vietnamese team accepts defeat and criticism in exchange for lessons.

Of course, defeat has a psychological impact. However, I feel that the players mentally determined that there was a high possibility of losing. They entered the game with a ready attitude, accepting the lesson so that they could move towards a further goal. That is shown by the fact that when they lost by 3, 5 or 6 goals, the Vietnamese team still moved forward, held the ball and organized attacks.

The Vietnamese team can fail, even lose badly. I think losing 0-1 or 0-6 in a friendly match is not much different. If we just go back to the previous style of play, just playing defensively and then losing 0-1, we can then console each other, then the Vietnamese team will not accumulate anything, we don't know where we can go.

It is normal for the Vietnamese team to lose to Korea. We are inferior and lose, but the important thing is that the players dare to face it. Khuat Van Khang still confidently dribbled past the players and was determined to score. That is necessary for a team that is accumulating and developing.

Khuat Van Khang and some young players performed positively against opponents with superior skills. (Photo: VFF)

Of course, when entering a match, no one wants to lose by 6 goals. We should ignore the story about the home team's weakness in a match like this, because this is the difference in class. We are inferior to our opponents in every aspect.

If you don't want to lose to Korea, then you have to not play a friendly match with them. If you play against Korea, you have to accept defeat in exchange for a lesson.

Reducing the number of goals conceded is one thing, but also the reaction and playing when goals are conceded. The Vietnamese team does not have many opportunities to play with world-class players. In front of the Vietnamese team are stars from PSG, Bayern Munich, Tottenham, very few opportunities to play with them, to get past them and score.

- It is understandable that fans are not satisfied when the Vietnamese team fails. The consecutive and heavy losses have increased the pressure on coach Troussier.

This is not an easy and unpleasant matter. Even though Mr. Troussier is experienced in terms of age and career, this is still an unpleasant matter and if this situation continues, the French coach may not be able to stay. That is the risk that Coach Troussier must accept when choosing this path for the Vietnam team. On the other hand, the choice of Troussier also poses a risk to Vietnamese football.

Coach Troussier faces much criticism.

This relationship still has risks. I think Mr. Troussier also has the courage and preparation to face reality. From the viewer's perspective, the reaction to failure is also normal, but I think the pressure created by public opinion at this time is more than necessary and lacks a bit of objectivity.

Remember that these are just training matches. The goal of the Vietnam team is still in the future. Failure in the World Cup qualifiers, Asian Cup or AFF Cup is the big deal.

- The Vietnamese team has gone through 6 matches to test, build the squad and play style. However, with the current situation, fans have reason to worry about the 2026 World Cup qualifying round in November.

The second qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup is not too difficult. The Iraqi team is superior but not to the extent of Korea. Indonesia and the Philippines at the moment can play on par with the Vietnamese team, but we are not inferior. I believe that the Vietnamese team is capable of achieving good results to continue.

Of course, risks in football can still happen. November is the official match, more moderate but with clearer meaning. That is when we have the answer to the question of whether this path, this method, this personnel is reasonable or not.

Whether Coach Troussier is the right choice or not, let's look at the performance of the Vietnamese team in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup. If they do not win the AFF Cup or do not perform well in the second qualifying round, it will be difficult to be patient with Coach Troussier. However, at the present time, we cannot confirm that.

- Thank you for your analysis.

Source: https://vtc.vn/blv-quang-tung-tuyen-viet-nam-chap-nhan-thua-dam-doi-lay-bai-hoc-ar827961.html