Indonesia still has many weaknesses that the Vietnamese team can exploit.

In both of Indonesia's victories over Vietnam, with a score of 1-0 at the 2023 Asian Cup and in the first leg of the 2026 World Cup second qualifying round in Asia, the team from the archipelago did not play well.

Domestic experts believe that the Vietnamese team lost rather than the opponent won. We lost because of mistakes (Thanh Binh pulled the opponent's shirt in the penalty area leading to a penalty at the 2023 Asian Cup, Minh Trong kicked the ball straight into Egy Maulana's feet for him to score, in the World Cup qualifying match on March 21), lost because of poor coordination, because of unclear playing style, not because Indonesia was too strong.

In fact, coach Shin Tae-yong's team still has weaknesses that the Vietnamese team can exploit.

Firstly, the integration of the new naturalized players into the Indonesian team has not been good. Left-back Nathan Tjoe-A-On played very poorly at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium on March 21. He was substituted early, replaced by Pratama Arhan at the beginning of the second half.

Center back Jay Idzes has not made any significant contributions to the Indonesian team, except for attacking, taking advantage of his 1.90 m height to put pressure on the small defense of the Vietnamese team, before Indonesia scored from a throw-in in the 52nd minute.

This is also understandable, it is difficult for new players to integrate into the new team immediately. Moreover, between naturalized players and native Indonesian players, there are also cultural and language barriers...

This is also a problem for midfielder Thom Haye, or striker Ragnar Oratmangoen, if they are allowed to play in the second leg on March 26 at My Dinh Stadium.

The Indonesian defenders’ ability to turn around is not good. They are tall, but not necessarily agile. The proof is in the second half of the first leg, there was a situation where Nham Manh Dung turned around and eliminated the Indonesian defender quite simply. It is just a pity that Nham Manh Dung’s subsequent shot was inaccurate.

Unfortunately, the Vietnamese team has very few such coordinated attacks. Regarding this issue, former Vice President of Professional Affairs of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Duong Vu Lam commented: "I regret the absence of Cong Phuong, if he were on the field, his technique and ability to create breakthroughs could make the Indonesian defense more difficult.

I also regret that faces like Nguyen Tien Linh, Ho Tan Tai, Nguyen Van Toan were brought onto the field too late, there was not enough time for them to change the situation on the field."

The harmony in the Indonesian team's lineup is still not high.

In addition, another weakness of Indonesia is that the strikers of the archipelago team have not yet scored. Rafael Struick continues to be "silent". This is the 12th match that the Dutch player has played for the Indonesian team. After a total of 12 matches, Rafael Struick has not yet scored.

Hokky Caraka also appeared on the field in the match at Gelora Bung Karno on March 21 and did not fare any better (the person who replaced Hokky Caraka in the second half was attacking midfielder Egy Maulana, the author of the only goal). This poses the problem of having to continue changing the personnel for the strikers for coach Shin Tae-yong.

Indonesia is not strong in "live" situations. In both matches they have won against Vietnam since the beginning of the year, from the Asian Cup to the World Cup qualifiers, the team from the archipelago country has scored goals from set pieces (penalty kicks in the Asian Cup, throw-ins leading to goals in the World Cup qualifiers). It is important that the Vietnam team carefully study their opponents, have appropriate countermeasures, and prepare better for the return match.

The Indonesian team is not strong in 'live ball' situations.

Former VFF Vice President Duong Vu Lam analyzed: "Some members of the Vietnamese team said before the first leg that we were well prepared for the match at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium. But from what I witnessed, the Vietnamese team was not ready for that match, from the psychological aspect, to the playing style as well as physical strength. Hopefully the second leg will be different."

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