Vietnam - Japan: The ultimate challenge on the opening day of the Asian Cup

Qatar Vietnam is facing a match that promises to be full of difficulties at Al Thumama Stadium against Japan - the number one team in Asia who is in destructive form.

Japan have been in top form in the world for the past year, winning all 10 of their last 10 matches, scoring 40 and conceding just five goals. Since Hajime Moriyasu took charge in 2018, Japan's style of play has improved, with a pace that Thailand coach Masatada Ishii described as "dizzyingly fast when you watch it live, even faster than on TV".

Nguyen Quang Hai (right) collided with Wataru Endo (left) in the match where Vietnam lost 0-1 to Japan in the quarter-finals of the 2019 Asian Cup. Photo: Hieu Luong

Present in Qatar this time, Japan aims for the fifth Asian Cup championship in history. Their seriousness is demonstrated by the fact that they have summoned all the best players playing in Europe, such as Takefusa Kubo, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Wataru Endo. Or even the fact that an injured Kaoru Mitoma is still summoned also reflects the calculation and confidence that the "Samurai Warriors" will go far. Based on the reality of their form and strength, all football statistics sites and international newspapers put the highest chance of winning the championship for Japan.

Despite being full of confidence, Coach Moriyasu and his players are still on high alert in the opening match against Vietnam. The whole team clearly understands the difficulties when facing Vietnam in the past five years when they only won 1-0 in the quarter-finals of the 2019 Asian Cup, then won 1-0 and drew 1-1 in the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup. Takumi Minamino is wary of a shock like Japan's comeback win over Germany in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup. Coach Moriyasu considers the appearance of Coach Philippe Troussier - a person who understands Japanese football - as the opponent's most dangerous weapon.

The French coach's knowledge and experience in Japan is considered a rare bright spot for Vietnam, in the context of difficulties surrounding, when a series of quality and experienced players are absent due to injury. Compared to the meeting at the 2019 Asian Cup, while the Japanese squad is increasingly stronger and more stable, the "golden generation" of Vietnamese football is declining, creating strong turmoil, forcing the coach to put more trust in the group of young players.

Despite the widening gap in skill level, Mr. Troussier still believes that Vietnam can create a surprise, and even if they cannot gain points, a loss by a small margin is still a success. Vietnam knows that a goal or a yellow card can decide the ticket to the next round. The round of 16 not only gathers the first and second teams in each group, but also the four third-placed teams with the best results.

Nguyen Thanh Binh (white shirt left) headed the opening goal in Vietnam's 1-1 draw with Japan at Saitama Stadium in March 2021, in the final match of the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup. Photo: AFP

As coach Troussier said at the pre-match press conference, the players all understood that a defeat against Japan was normal, but the journey was not over because there were still matches against Indonesia and Iraq ahead. Center back Bui Hoang Viet Anh and captain Do Hung Dung both clearly understood the goals for each match in the group stage, and declared "Vietnam did not come to Qatar for tourism ".

Vietnam once felt the terrible pressure when facing a high-class opponent, in a friendly match against South Korea 0-6 in October 2023. At that time, Mr. Troussier wanted the players to see the match against the top stars of Asia as "a gift". But today, the team will enter a ruthless battle, against the Japanese team with the most stars on the continent.

Hieu Luong

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