Top 10 Reasons Behind U19 Vietnam's Success at the 2016 AFC Championship

In the U19 Southeast Asia Championship held on home turf with the aim of winning the title, U19 Vietnam performed poorly and halted in the semi-finals after a 5-2 loss to Australia. Overall, it was a tournament that didn't meet the expectations of U19 coaching staff as the players seemed fatigued and lacked the required determination. Coach Hoang Anh Tuan took full responsibility and faced calls for his dismissal. However, VFF retained faith in the Khanh Hoa-native coach. With the return of key players, U19 Vietnam created one surprise after another. At this point, the importance of Coach Hoang Anh Tuan became evident in U19 Vietnam's success. His rational tactical directions, effective substitutions, and the ability to maximize each player's potential earned him immense admiration and respect from fans. Additionally, his selection of knowledgeable youth football assistants from various academies enhanced his understanding of each player's talent.

In major continental tournaments, Vietnamese football has often lagged behind in terms of fitness compared to more developed nations, significantly impacting the country's team performances. This year, the presence of German fitness expert Martin Forkel during the tournament preparation proved instrumental. His scientifically designed training methods contributed to a remarkable improvement in the U19 players' fitness. They faced opponents like North Korea, UAE, and Iraq without hesitation. Bahrain's coach even praised the Vietnamese players for their superior fitness compared to his own team. With a solid fitness foundation, the Vietnamese players displayed relentless running, endurance, and tenacious ball competition. This factor played a crucial role in our victory over Bahrain, as their team faltered after the initial 70 minutes due to fitness weaknesses.

Compared to the U19 squad of two years ago featuring players like Tuấn Anh, Xuân Trường, and Công Phượng, this year's U19 team boasts a significantly more ideal physique. While HAGL Arsenal JMG Academy emphasizes technical skills in its player selection, other academies like PVF and Viettel prioritize physical fitness. The average height of the previous U19 squad, mainly composed of HAGL Arsenal JMG players, was only 1.70m, slightly taller than the average Vietnamese youth but significantly shorter than players from countries like North Korea and Japan. This year, our team's average height is 1.76m, featuring physically well-built players like Trọng Đại (1.84m), Văn Hậu (1.84m), Tấn Sinh (1.81m), Văn Hào (1.80m), all developed in the youth academies of PVF, Viettel, or Hà Nội T&T. Despite facing taller opponents from West Asia, we conceded no goals from aerial situations.

After an unsuccessful U19 Southeast Asian Championship both in terms of results and gameplay, U19 Vietnam didn't carry high expectations into this Asian Championship. In stark contrast to two years ago, the undeniable truth is that, before creating surprises in the group stage, no Vietnamese journalists accompanied the delegation to Bahrain. It was only after the victories against North Korea and the draw with the UAE that the media, especially in Vietnam, started paying special attention to U19 Vietnam. Perhaps this limited attention added motivation for our young players to showcase their talents. Without the burden of expectations and fueled by enthusiasm and determination, they made history as U19 Vietnam, for the first time, qualifies for a World Cup.

The playing style of U19 Vietnam this year is vastly different from two years ago. In this tournament, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan emphasizes a counter-attacking defensive strategy. Benefiting from the advice of German Technical Director Gede, who has worked extensively in Asian football and understands the teams in the region well, the coaching staff has implemented a playing style that suits the current squad. U19 Vietnam's high-pressing style has caused numerous difficulties for opponents in approaching goalkeeper Tien Dung's goal. The 4-2-3-1 formation is regularly applied to maximize the capabilities of the midfield duo Tien Dung and Trong Dai in defensive midfield positions. Additionally, well-planned substitutions in matches contribute to the desired tactical setup by the coach.

Thoroughly researching opponents has greatly assisted the coaching staff in organizing the lineup and choosing the team's playing style for each match. The players' fitness is evenly distributed throughout the game, preventing fatigue towards the end. In the match against Bahrain, noticing the opponent's tendency to lose focus after the 70th minute, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan instructed his players to attack vigorously. Numerous scoring opportunities were created, and Tran Thanh's goal was a well-deserved result. Beating the host country is never an easy feat, but we achieved what seemed impossible.

Players at the age of 18, 19, some just past 17, always give their all on the field. In all matches, whether starting or on the bench, everyone plays as long as the home team achieves good results. Those coming off the bench always strive to prove their abilities to the coach. A notable example is Tran Thanh, who only came off the bench in the first 2 matches, leaving a significant impact and contributing an assist to Duc Chinh's opening goal against North Korea. In the remaining 3 matches against Iraq and Bahrain, Japan, Tran Thanh was in the starting lineup. Responding to the trust of the coaching staff, the striker from Hue club scored the only goal helping U19 Vietnam defeat Bahrain and advance to the semifinals.

Goalkeeper position has always been a concern for coaches in Vietnamese national teams. Goalkeeper errors have often led to bitter defeats. Tien Dung currently plays for FLC Thanh Hoa. Despite limited playing opportunities, Tien Dung consistently demonstrates his reliability whenever he takes the field. Initially, serving as a backup for Thanh Tuan in the qualifiers, Tien Dung became the first-choice goalkeeper for U19 Vietnam in the finals. The coaching staff recognized his abilities in controlling the penalty area, secure aerial ball handling, and good reflexes. Tien Dung had an outstanding tournament, particularly in the match against U19 Japan, where, despite the loss, he displayed a stellar performance making a series of crucial saves, including a spectacular penalty stop, preventing an early setback for U19 Vietnam.

Pham Trong Hoa was once the key player for U19 Vietnam in the AFC U19 Championship qualifiers. The midfielder, developed through the PVF academy, always stood out in U19's playing style. His dribbling skills consistently surprised opponents. In Trong Hoa's absence, U19 Vietnam's attack significantly weakened. Evidence lies in the U19 Southeast Asian Championship where their playing style received criticism for its simplicity, relying heavily on Minh Di's wing, making it easy for opponents to predict. Recognizing this, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan made appropriate adjustments, ensuring Trong Hoa's absence due to injury did not create excessive concerns as in the U19 SEA Championship. He often deployed Quang Hai, Minh Di, and a midfielder with defensive support capabilities, such as Hoang Nam or Van Hao, bringing balance to the team's playing style. Trong Hoa's absence allowed the talents of forward Tran Thanh to shine, as he scored the crucial goal sending U19 Vietnam to the World Cup in South Korea next year.