>>> Coach Park Hang-seo: “Vietnamese players will fight their best to meet fans’ expectations”
This promises to be a crunch encounter for the Southeast Asian representatives, who have made it this far in the World Cup Qualifiers for the first time ever.
Saudi Arabia is undoubtedly one of the continental powerhouses, having progressed to five of the past seven World Cups. The Western Asian team performed exceptionally in the second qualifying round with an impressive run of eight unbeaten games and a goal difference of 18 (22:4).
Saudi Arabia also impressed with a highly technical, well-organised and effective playing style which is significantly different from the typical long-ball and high-ball style of most other peers in the same region.
In order to prepare for the match against Vietnam, Saudi coach Herve Renard ignored a lot of criticism when skipping many names in good form to instead call on eight players who attended the 2018 World Cup along with a series of veterans. The caution of the French tactician showed that he does not want to take risks but seek to take advantage of abundant experience to reap a three-point result for their opening game on home field.
Saudi Arabia are well-known for their speedy, pressing and various playing style approach, as well as their ability to quickly turn from attacking to defence, and vice versa. The team currently possess quality line-ups in all three positions, with the presence of top-class players such as strikers Salem Al-Dawsari and Fahad Al-Muwallad, midfielder Salman Al-Faraj (captain), or defenders Al-Shahrani and Al-Breik who are capable of supporting in attacks well.
In the face of the much higher-rated Saudi Arabian side, home fans can hardly expect to see Vietnam’s overwhelming attacks. Instead, to achieve a positive result, the Golden Star Warriors should give more focus on defence.
Park’s success with the Vietnamese team over the past few years has relied on the solidity of the three-centre back format, with quality names such as Que Ngoc Hai, Tran Dinh Trong and Do Duy Manh. It is likely that regulars Luong Xuan Truong, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Pham Duc Huy and Nguyen Van Duc will continue to be Park’s choices for the midfield position against Saudi Arabia.
.jpg) |
Striker Nguyen Tien Linh (#22) and midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai (#19) will take charge of the scoring task for Vietnam against Saudi Arabia. (Photo: AFC)
The wings will see the presence of Nguyen Van Thanh, Ho Tan Tai, Nguyen Phong Hong Duy and Nguyen Trong Hoang, while Vietnam’s scoring task will be put on the shoulders of Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Tien Linh.
A game of overwhelming attack by the Vietnamese side will be hard to achieve. However, it will be long shots or set-pieces that can possibly help Park’s troops create mutations. Quang Hai, Xuan Truong and Tuan Anh are expected to bring hopes for Vietnam in this regard.
Ahead of the Saudi Arabia clash, the fortune against Western Asian opponents under Park’s dynasty could be described as a source of encouragement for the Golden Star Warriors, with seven wins, four draws and four defeats.
On the spiritual side, Park’s troops will be playing Saudi Arabia on the occasion of Vietnam’s National Day (September 2). During a pre-match press briefing, the Korean coach and captain Que Ngoc Hai called on the players to push hard for the best result to bring joy to the Vietnamese people on this significant day. At home, millions of fans are waiting for the unyielding fighting spirit of the Golden Star Warriors to achieve positive results from the group opener.
The opening Group B match between Vietnam and Saudi Arabia is set to take place King Saud University Stadium in Riyadh at 9pm on September 2 local time (1am on September 3, Vietnamese time).
