Vietnam – Thailand: Reversing the history of the SEA Games?

*Vietnam – Thailand: 19h Sunday, May 22, on VnExpress.

Since its re-integration with the region in 1991, Vietnam has quickly emerged as the biggest counterweight to Thailand at the Southeast Asian football level. But, despite defeating this opponent many times at the national team level, Vietnam has never known the smell of victory against them in the SEA Games arena.

Specifically, in 12 encounters at the regional sports festival, the best performance of Vietnamese male players against Thailand is only four draws, in 1999, 2003, 2009 and 2019. Even in At the time of sublimation with the players Quang Hai, Van Hau, Thanh Chung, Tan Tai, Hoang Duc … and the golden thirst for SEA Games in 2019, Vietnam could only draw with Thailand. At that time, coach Park Hang-seo’s team even went two goals ahead after only 10 minutes, before struggling to regain a point thanks to Tien Linh’s double, including a penalty in the 75th minute.

The history of confrontation in the SEA Games men’s football finals is not even in favor of Vietnam, with four defeats. Even in 2003, in the final match at My Dinh Stadium, Vietnam also lost 1-2 and sadly watched Thailand step up to the high throne.

Therefore, Hung Dung and his teammates will enter today’s match with a double burden of expectation: both successfully defending the gold medal won in the Philippines three years ago, and helping Vietnam defeat Thailand in the SEA Games. Difficulties are to be expected, but there is also a certain basis for hope.

Vietnam owns the best defense since the beginning of the tournament, even being the only team that has not yet conceded a goal through four group stage matches and a semi-final. Prominent among these is the pair of central defenders Bui Hoang Viet Anh – Nguyen Thanh Binh who are very brave in hand-to-hand combat and proactive in air combat thanks to their excellent physique. Three players over the age of 23 are also playing the leading role as expected by Coach Park. In the middle of the field, the duo Hung Dung – Hoang Duc ensures to regulate the tempo, deploying the play in the middle of the field. When needed, they also become steel fists from the middle of the field, like how Hung Dung scored against Indonesia and Myanmar in the group stage. In the spearhead position, although not taking advantage of the opportunity well, Tien Linh still shines at the decisive moments, the latest is a precious goal like pure gold from the header to defeat Malaysia at the end of extra time in the second semi-final. .

“The pressure is obviously there, but on the other hand, it also motivates us to improve and be more determined,” Coach Park said at the press conference before the final against Thailand. The Korean leader uses the word “perfect” to talk about his opponent, but is also confident that he has understood a number of strengths and weaknesses that he believes can be exploited to make a difference.

Thailand is attacking the best in the league with 15 goals in five matches played. But in two big matches, they still showed limitations in their play. Before Malaysia in the opening match, Thailand made many mistakes in the defense, leading to loss of people and losing 1-2 in reverse. When they met Indonesia in the semi-finals, they were also under great pressure and were only able to stand thanks to the ecstatic moments of goalkeeper Kawin, before scoring the decisive goal thanks to Weerathep Pomphan in extra time.

Since both teams have to play 120 minutes in the semi-finals, there will be no difference in fitness. Chances are, the team that keeps the game stable and has the individual that creates the mutation first, that team will have more chances to win. Coach Mano Polking said that his students like the exciting atmosphere in big matches, and that will be tested in My Dinh today – where Vietnam has never lost to any team in Southeast Asia. under Coach Park and promises to be dyed red by more than 40,000 Vietnamese fans.

Probable teams

Vietnam (5-3-2): Van Toan – Van Do, Tien Long, Thanh Binh, Vietnam, Tuan Tai – Hoang Duc, Hung Dung, Quang Nho – Van Tung, Tien Linh

Thailand (4-2-3-1): Kawin – Nakin, Jonathan, Chonnapat, Chayapipat – Airfan, Ekanit – Ben Davies, Weerathep, Worachit – Gustavsson

Nhat Tao