Eight months ago, members of Vietnam’s Olympic squad were defeated 2-1 by the RoK U23 team in the group stage of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship in China. While little has changed in the Vietnamese side compared to the last meeting between the two teams, with just three over-23 players added to the Asiad lineup, the RoK side has a very different look. Only five names of the previous U23 squad have been kept for the Asiad campaign, including Song Bum-keun, Hwang Hyun-soo, Cho Yu-min, Kim Moon-hwan and Jang Yun-ho, while the remaining 15 players are of a superior level. Tottenham Hotspur star, Son Heung-min, is the most noticeable name in coach Kim Hak-bum’s squad, and this player is currently determined to join his teammates to defend their Asiad championship title in order to avoid missing out on his football career by being called up for two-year military service as stipulated by the RoK’s law.
Therefore, the challenge posed by the RoK for Park Hang-seo’s Vietnam in this afternoon’s semifinal match promises to be much tougher than it was at the AFC U23 Championship. At the 2018 Asiad, the RoK’s Olympic team played short and fast passes, in addition to a pressing playing style. With many skilled players, the RoK gradually smashed Uzbekistan’s defensive wall that had seemed to be very solid, for an incredible 4-3 victory in the quarterfinals.
In the face of such a tough opponent, Vietnam’s Olympic team have suffered a huge set back as centre back Doan Van Hau will be absent following his two yellow cards. Therefore, Vietnamese fans and experts are counting on Park Hang-seo’s ability to turn the situation. At the 2018 Asiad, the selections of the 59-year-old tactician helped Vietnam step by step to overcome difficulties and make it through to the semifinals, gaining the admirations of both domestic and international media. It was Park’s wise substitutions that inspired Vietnam to crucial victories over Bahrain and Syria in the Round of 16 and the quarterfinals, respectively.
One sign of hope for Vietnam’s Olympic team in today’s semifinal clash is Malaysia’s 2-1 triumph over the RoK in the group stage. The goals conceded to Malaysia and Uzbekistan show that the RoK side still have frailties, especially in the centre back position. This will be a precious opportunity for the coaching staff of Vietnam’s Olympic team to put forward a winning strategy for the yellow stars this afternoon.
