The Philippines team once made Vietnam struggle, coach Kim Sang-sik needs to have a hot countermeasure

Lessons from AFF Cup 2024

Former VFF Vice President Duong Vu Lam commented: "At first glance, Philippine teams play very simply, with many long passes and many high balls. This style of play is not too complicated, but Vietnamese teams still face difficulties because of the above style of play. Firstly, Vietnamese players are at a disadvantage in terms of physique and are not good at aerial combat. Secondly, it is the simple, somewhat lulling style of play of Philippine players that deceives Vietnamese players. We lose focus because of this style of play, so sometimes we are punished for that lack of focus."

The Philippines team once made Vietnam struggle, coach Kim Sang-sik needs to have a hot countermeasure - Photo 1.

Coach Kim Sang-sik has not forgotten his opponent, the Philippines - Photo: Ngoc Linh

At the AFF Cup 2024, the Philippines team almost made the Vietnam team lose. In the match that took place at Rizal Memorial Stadium (Manila, Philippines) on December 18 last year, the Philippines mainly played long balls and high balls, before the Vietnam team conceded a goal because of such high balls.

In the 68th minute, the ball was hung high into the penalty area of the Vietnamese team, our defender did not clear the ball well, sending the ball straight to Gayoso's position. In a favorable position, the Philippine player kicked the ball into the Vietnamese team's net, helping the Philippines lead 1-0.

Before the semi-final match, what did the coaches of U.23 Vietnam and U.23 Philippines think about their opponents?

During the match, coach Kim Sang-sik's team also faced many difficulties against the pressing style of the Philippine players. The players of this team have good physical strength and are not afraid of collisions, they often put the Vietnamese players at a disadvantage in one-on-one disputes. It was not until the 7th minute of injury time of the second half that Doan Ngoc Tan scored the equalizer 1-1 for the Vietnamese team, from a rather lucky situation.

Solutions to overcome opponent U.23 Philippines

Therefore, the confrontation with the U.23 Philippines team on July 25 will certainly not be easy for the U.23 Vietnam team. Coach Kim Sang-sik has not forgotten the lesson from the match at the AFF Cup 2024. To overcome the tall, physically strong defense of the U.23 Philippines, the U.23 Vietnam players must play faster, pass the ball with fewer touches, and the players need to handle the ball more decisively and accurately than in the group stage matches.

The Philippines team once made Vietnam struggle, coach Kim Sang-sik needs to have a hot countermeasure - Photo 2.

U.23 Vietnam needs to defend high balls better - Photo: Ngoc Linh

Former VFF Vice President Duong Vu Lam advised: "Vietnamese players are stronger than their opponents in terms of technique, more proficient than Philippine players in coordination, because we have trained together more and competed together in many tournaments. Therefore, we must promote our strengths in ball control. In addition, the fact that the semi-final of the U.23 Southeast Asia tournament will be played on a natural grass field in Jakarta will help Vietnamese players more than having to play on an artificial grass field in Manila at the AFF Cup 2024. Those are details that can help Vietnamese players be more confident in coordination. I think that the chance of U.23 Vietnam reaching the final is greater than that of U.23 Philippines."

That means if U.23 Vietnam plays to its strengths. At the same time, we are alert to high balls from the opponent, U.23 Vietnam's defense is better at marking and covering than in the group stage matches, coach Kim Sang-sik's team will have the advantage over the opponent.

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Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-philippines-tung-khien-viet-nam-khon-kho-hlv-kim-sang-sik-can-co-doi-sach-nong-185250724131904109.htm