PLAYER OF MOMENTS OF REGRET
In the friendly match against India on the evening of October 12th, if Quang Hai's tap-in after Van Quyet's exquisite assist hadn't been blocked by the opposing defender on the goal line, or if Quyet's subsequent angled shot had spun a little more and gone into the net instead of crossing the goal line, he could have said goodbye to the Vietnamese national team in a more fitting way.
Van Quyet bids farewell to the Vietnamese national team.
Van Quyet's entire career with the Vietnamese national team is perhaps a collection of such regrettable moments. The player from Hanoi reached the national team during the darkest period of Vietnamese football, when coach Henrique Calisto left to make way for Phan Thanh Hung and the Vietnamese national team began a period of rapid decline: elimination in the group stage of the 2012 AFF Cup, semi-finals of the 2014 and 2016 AFF Cups, interspersed with early exits in the Asian Cup and World Cup qualifiers. Despite this, the 33-year-old midfielder remained like a tireless bird, spreading his wings even during this imperfect period for the Vietnamese national team.
When coach Park Hang-seo arrived and brought about a new era, Van Quyet lost his place. He was merely a "symbolic" captain, playing no concrete role in Vietnam's 2018 AFF Cup winning campaign. After that, he was called up to the national team a couple of times before... leaving again. The presence or absence of the Hanoi FC captain has always been a subject of debate. Some say his playing style doesn't fit coach Park Hang-seo's philosophy, while others argue that not using him is a great waste. Because, in terms of skill level, the number of players in Vietnamese football who are better than Van Quyet can probably be counted on the fingers of one hand.
This was Van Quyet's last match in the Vietnamese national team jersey.
However, the story of the Vietnamese national team under coach Park and Van Quyet's missed opportunity ultimately led to a happy ending for both. The Vietnamese national team reached the quarterfinals of the 2019 Asian Cup and the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers even without Quyet in the squad. As for the Hanoi FC captain, he has amassed numerous V-League titles, the National Cup, and two Vietnamese Golden Ball awards in just three years. He is a rare player who doesn't really need the glory of the national team to be recognized. In those years, it can only be said that he missed out on the Vietnamese national team simply because the two sides weren't compatible.
K CLOSING AN ERA
Although Van Quyet has achieved considerable glory, the evening he bid farewell to the Vietnamese national team left a bittersweet feeling of regret. Deep down, the Hanoi FC captain still deeply loves the national team jersey. This midfielder may have stood on the line between love and hate, shining during a turbulent period in Vietnamese football, but his professionalism deserves recognition. He strived to perform at his club to always be ready whenever he joined the national team. Despite being constantly on the move for the past six years, not being given a key role by coaches Park Hang-seo, Philippe Troussier, or even Kim Sang-sik, he remained professional in his work.
Van Quyet is a prominent figure in Vietnamese football.
"I think it's very difficult to learn from Van Quyet, because each individual is a unique story; you can't tell one player to learn from another. But the insights he shares about his fighting spirit, lifestyle, or simply how to deal with the media, young players should all learn from him. This will help them maintain composure, focus on the game, and not be affected by external factors," midfielder Hung Dung shared.
The high standards he has demonstrated have built a stellar career spanning over a decade for Quyết "the Forest" (his nickname given to him by teammates and fans), helping him, despite numerous criticisms and setbacks, remain a leading figure among the younger generation of Hanoi FC during this transitional period.
Van Quyet's 13 years of effort in the national team may have some unfulfilled aspects, but he will have no regrets as he has tried his best.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/van-quyet-and-loi-tam-biet-dang-do-185241013204819305.htm
Comment (0)