The 2024 AFF Cup kicked off yesterday (December 8), with matches in Group A. Today (December 9), the Vietnamese team will start in Group B, with a match on the field of the Lao team. Experts assess that 3 points are within reach of coach Kim Sang-sik, but there are still other tasks and goals to achieve such as supporting mental factors.
When the Vietnamese team took the field, the Indonesian team had just finished their opening match (away against Myanmar). Indonesia is listed as a candidate for the championship this year along with the Vietnamese team and the Thai team. Although coming to this tournament with a squad consisting mostly of U22 players, coach Shin Tae-yong's team is still highly regarded.
Therefore, the team from the archipelago is still considered the "superior" team with the ability to win 3 points. In that case, the Vietnam team will need to have a bigger victory to soon take the top spot thanks to the extra goal difference. Is it too early to think about the extra goal difference in the opening match? Not at all, on the contrary, caution and calculation of the path need to be shown soon, because there have been many previous lessons - from Vietnamese football itself and major tournaments about determining victory or defeat by extra goal difference.
If Indonesia does not win, of course, that is good news. But then, the Vietnam team will have to do other tasks. Coach Kim Sang-sik may want to "hide his cards" before meeting Indonesia in the next match (match 3), but may still need to regulate to give opportunities to some factors.
The defense needs to keep a clean sheet, the midfield needs to perform and control well, the attack needs to score. Goals on the opening day will be very important for the strikers, from the pillars like Tien Linh, Tuan Hai, Van Toan to Vi Hao or Thanh Binh. They need to score points, not only with Mr. Kim Sang-sik, to find confidence for themselves, but also to convince the fans - who can cheer or put pressure on them based on their performance.
Xuan Son is not yet eligible to play, but the victory and good performance are motivation for the whole team, thereby also becoming a stimulating factor, promoting the eagerness and excitement of the Brazilian striker to contribute when reaching the important stage.
