Confidence is shaken…
On the evening of January 19, Vietnamese football received a big shock when the Vietnamese national team suffered a humiliating defeat against Indonesia with a score of 0-1, thereby officially being eliminated early at the 2023 Asian Football Cup. The above result made people excited. Vietnamese football fans’ trust in coach Troussier was severely shaken. Many opinions say that the French strategist is not really suitable for the Golden Star Warriors. Along with that are requests for the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) to take action, even firing the 68-year-old military leader.
It’s easy to understand the anger of fans in the S-shaped strip of land after the recent disappointing results. Because, for the past 8 years, we have not lost to Tim Garuda, an opponent 52 places lower than Vietnam National Team on the rankings. Besides that failure, there are a series of questions about the allegedly inappropriate playing style and inappropriate use of people from the “White Witch”. Moreover, the worry about the decline in the country’s football prospects appeared before the eyes of Coach Troussier and his team. The progressive reform directions of the French teacher and VFF are still unclear and there is no basis to prove it is correct.
Coach Troussier was heavily criticized after the defeat against Indonesia. Photo: VFF.
After many years of rebuilding, football in the country has only truly flourished under coach Park Hang-seo. We have the second time reaching the top position at the AFF Cup, winning the SEA Games gold medal twice after more than 60 years of waiting and the first time entering the final round of a World Cup. What fans are waiting for is that the king sport in Vietnam continues to develop, not being too vague and unrealistically oriented and lacking grounds to believe like it is now. Therefore, fans have the right to react when they do not know where the future of Vietnamese football will go.
The recent statement of HAGL Club President – Mr. Doan Nguyen Duc seems to express the feelings of Vietnamese football fans. He said: “Vietnamese football fans, including myself, have to wake up from our dreams. Let’s not let Coach Troussier lull us to sleep anymore. We can’t dream of going to the World Cup when we play like that! Football can win and lose, but if we lose to Indonesia and are eliminated early, Coach Troussier will certainly did not meet the expectations of Vietnamese fans. The loss to Indonesia was not only disappointing in terms of results, but the most worrying thing was the way they lost and the incorrect use of people, many good players had to be on the bench. Not yet. I’ve never seen Vietnam play against Indonesia and be so outmatched. It’s so deadlocked, there’s no way to win, to be fair.”
…where is the hope?
Besides the criticism, it is also necessary to recall that, in accepting the relationship with coach Troussier, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) accepted the French coach’s direction of destroying and rebuilding. The Vietnamese national team needs a new direction, approaching modern tactics and aspirational people to soon reach the World Cup dream. If the “White Witch” does not succeed, at least he leaves a good foundation for his successor and the future development of Vietnamese football. That is the reason why VFF leaders are still pouring all their trust in the captain born in 1968.
Many experienced experts in Vietnam also show confidence in Coach Troussier. Commentator Vu Quang Huy commented: “This is the right direction, but for it to be effective, what Mr. Troussier did with the Vietnamese team, the whole football industry should move accordingly. When we acknowledge his class, we should support him. For example, the Vietnamese national team must play with such high intensity, so the matches in the V.League also need to be more realistic.
Many experts still support coach Philippe Troussier. Photo: VFF.
Former famous player Van Thi Thanh of the Vietnamese women’s team commented: “Anyway, I still support Mr. Troussier. With his playing philosophy, Vietnamese Football will definitely develop further. What is needed is time and trust in him.”. Striker Pham Tuan Hai said: “We are still trying to improve every day, to better meet the style of play that head coach Philippe Troussier is building for the team. Hopefully, fans will give the team trust and support not only through one match but throughout the entire process, because we are still on the path to getting closer to the level of top continental football. . Let’s accompany each other and strive together.”
Can see, In the eyes of Vietnamese football experts, they still believe in the “White Witch”. At the present time, despite facing a lot of pressure, Coach Troussier’s position is still quite stable. The performance of the Vietnam National Team in two matches in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia against Indonesia will probably be the clearest answer that the belief in the French strategist is truly correct. .