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Members of the Vietnamese nationwide staff have fun an unlikely purpose towards Japan final week. Photograph vietnamplus.vn
Peter Cowan
All good issues should come to an finish and whether or not you thought it was , dangerous or ugly marketing campaign, Việt Nam’s World Cup qualification odyssey got here to an finish final week in Japan.
4 factors and eight targets from 10 matches is a method of telling the story of Việt Nam’s bid to succeed in Qatar, however whereas the desk doesn’t lie, it doesn’t inform the entire story.
With the mud settled, it’s time to replicate on what went proper for Việt Nam, and what didn’t.
The great – making historical past
Vietnamese soccer has seen loads of firsts up to now few years, and the World Cup marketing campaign was no exception.
Reaching the third spherical for the primary time ever meant coach Park Hold-seo’s males have been taking part in with home cash from the opening kickoff, however they weren’t content material to make up the numbers.
A 3-1 win over China in Hà Nội in February made Việt Nam the primary Southeast Asian staff to choose up some extent within the third spherical.
That particular evening was nearly topped final week when Việt Nam held Japan to a 1-1 draw away from house.
Whereas they did journey their luck, the result’s what issues on the finish of the day and this consequence made historical past once more as the primary time the nationwide staff had prevented defeat towards Asian giants Japan.
The dangerous – V.League sacrificed
I really feel like I’m flogging a little bit of a lifeless horse with this explicit gripe, nevertheless it nonetheless must be mentioned – home soccer has suffered tremendously in favour of the nationwide staff.
Issues just like the ridiculous four-month V.League 1 break and coach Park with the ability to hold his fees in camp for ludicrous quantities of time have made it clear that the powers that be see the nationwide staff as much more necessary.
Which may be so, however the nationwide groups of the longer term gained’t have a lot success with out a wholesome league to feed them with gamers.
Hopefully, the subsequent time Việt Nam make it to the third spherical home soccer gained’t be sacrificed on the altar of short-term success, however I gained’t maintain my breath.
The ugly – the precise soccer
Let’s face it, for giant stretches of the marketing campaign there wasn’t a lot to be enthusiastic about on the pitch.
A lot of graft and no lack of dedication, sure, however again and again it was clear Park had set his stall out to keep away from heavy defeats, which his staff did for essentially the most half.
Maybe it was the precise choice and Park is definitely extra certified to make it than me, however I nonetheless can’t assist however really feel that taking part in with a bit extra bravery might need given Việt Nam the prospect to actually put the cat among the many pigeons in Group B.
The 1-0 house defeat to Australia final September stands proud to me as a match Việt Nam might have taken extra from.
The Socceroos didn’t precisely set the world alight all through the marketing campaign and have been fairly pedestrian that evening in Hà Nội, so it was a disgrace Việt Nam didn’t actually put their defence below any sustained stress. VNS
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