Hope for Xuan Son and Tien Linh
Since the start of the 2024 ASEAN Cup, the Vietnamese team has stuck to a defensive counter-attacking strategy. Even when facing opponents who were rated lower, coach Kim Sang-sik did not attack first. That is why the team mainly scored in the second half, because they started the game slowly in the first half.
Against Thailand, it is even more difficult for Vietnam to risk playing an open game. Ensuring defense according to coach Kim's philosophy while taking advantage of counter-attack opportunities requires sharp strikers.
In the last 3 matches, Xuan Son has somewhat filled this worry. He scored 5 goals and 3 assists at the ASEAN Cup 2024, playing well with his teammates. Tien Linh also had 3 goals for himself.
Thailand's defense will be much more difficult to deal with than Singapore or Myanmar, so Vietnam's strikers must seize the opportunity and make the most of every attack to gain an advantage.
The Formidability of Suphanat Mueanta
Suphanat Mueanta is in good form for the Thai national team. So far, he has 4 goals and 4 assists after 5 matches. In September, in a friendly match at My Dinh, the striker born in 2002 scored the equalizer against Filip Nguyen (Thailand won 2-1). Suphanat also scored against Vietnam at the 2019 SEA Games.
Suphanat's ability to create and create chances makes him a notable name on the right wing. With Suphanat's speed and agile movements, the Vietnamese defense must maintain discipline and initiative.
Psychological problems
Another worrying factor is that the Vietnamese team often suffers from psychological problems when facing Thailand. At both the youth and national team levels, every time they face Thailand, the players are under great pressure. The fans’ expectations for these big matches also prevent the team from having the best mental state when they take the field.
On the contrary, Thailand is always confident when facing Vietnam. Throughout the tournament, they have also proven their mettle. After losing to the Philippines in the first leg and conceding a goal in the second leg, the War Elephants still kept their composure and won a ticket to the final after 120 minutes.
Currently, the Vietnamese team's playing style has improved with the presence of Xuan Son, but if they play with heavy legs, it will not be easy to gain an advantage over their rivals at home.
