The sadness of Nguyen Filip
The semi-finals of the ASEAN Cup 2024 took place with mixed emotions for Nguyen Filip. Like many professional goalkeepers, the 32-year-old goalkeeper also aspires to become the "main character", contributing directly to the overall success of the Vietnam team. However, coach Kim Sang Sik's choice was Nguyen Dinh Trieu - after consulting with assistant Lee Won Jae.
Nguyen Filip could not help but feel disappointed. After two unsuccessful campaigns with the Vietnam team at the 2023 Asian Cup finals and the 2nd qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, he was eager to "erase his bad luck" at this ASEAN Cup. But until the Vietnam team reached the finals, Nguyen Filip had only played twice and in the remaining 4 matches, the Vietnamese-American goalkeeper had to watch his teammates play from the bench.
Nguyen Filip is an introvert, but he could not hide his sadness when he was not chosen as the number 1 goalkeeper. He did not reply to the text message of his close friend at the Hanoi Police Club as was his usual habit before the match day. This goalkeeper also walked quietly on the Viet Tri field, then sat alone and thoughtful on the bench of his team before the second leg of the semi-final against Singapore.
Earlier, at the airport traveling from Singapore to Vietnam after the first leg, Nguyen Filip quickly passed by the reporter's lens. He quickly checked in his luggage and went to the immigration area alone, instead of chatting with his teammates around him.
Nguyen Filip is really sad that he is not the number 1 choice in the goal of the Vietnam National Team. That is the feeling that any goalkeeper experiences, because the goalkeeper position has only one person.
...smile of victory
There is a detail that brings optimism to Nguyen Filip in particular and the general picture of the Vietnam team. After winning the right to play in the final match after 2 victories against Singapore, the goalkeeper of Hanoi Police walked with his teammates on the field, asked Van Thanh about his injury situation or talked with Thanh Long about the match that had just taken place. Nguyen Filip openly talked with his teammates about the echoes of the victory.
More importantly, Filip smiled. Seeing the stands full of fans at Viet Tri Stadium and the chants of “Vietnam, Vietnam is the champion”, his face became brighter, he clapped his hands and looked at the fans with joy. In the explosive atmosphere, Nguyen Filip also felt a sense of happiness. It was not personal joy, but pride in the collective achievement of the whole team. Looking at his gestures, movements and expressions, Filip really had a more optimistic tendency.
Ahead of the 1992-born goalkeeper are two ASEAN Cup finals of the Vietnam National Team. Coach Kim Sang-sik may give Nguyen Filip a chance to play, or he may just support his team from the bench. But that's okay. As striker Xuan Son once shared, whether he wins the Golden Boot or not is not as important as the victory of his team. And perhaps goalkeeper Nguyen Filip gradually understands that...
The Vietnamese team will play the first leg of the final at Viet Tri Stadium (Phu Tho) on January 2, 2025, then play the second leg away on January 5, 2025.
