Vietnam vs Oman (12/10): It's time to earn points
After losing the first three matches, the Vietnamese team may have to play as if they have nothing to lose against the host Oman on Tuesday night, October 12.
Oman, China and Vietnam are considered the three weakest teams in Group B, the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup in Asia. But, unlike China and Vietnam, the Oman team had a brighter performance. In the opening match, they defeated Japan, a very strong team in this group, with a number of 1-0, to become the dark horse of the group.
In the next two matches, although they also lost to Saudi Arabia and Australia, the impression that the West Asian team made was quite positive. In the loss to Australia, Oman possesses very impressive offensive stats. They launched 11 shots, of which 4 were on target, and the ball control rate was approximately the same as Australia's.
The Oman team shows that they are ready to play fair and square with strong opponents in this table. Therefore, this will be a big challenge for Vietnam.
History of confrontation and fate
In the past, the Vietnamese team could not win against Oman in both encounters. The last time the two teams met was 18 years ago (2003). At that time, Vietnam and Oman were in the same group in the 2004 Asian Cup qualifying round. In addition to Vietnam and Oman, the group also had the presence of Nepal, and especially Korea - the team that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup. Cup 2002 held in his hometown.
The first leg of the 2004 Asian Cup qualifiers was held in Incheon, South Korea. Vietnam team lost to Oman a white tennis set. The second leg took place in Muscat, Oman continued to enjoy the joy of victory, but the Vietnamese team only conceded 2 goals. Unfortunately, our team failed to score a single goal after both matches.
However, in the qualifying round of the 2004 Asian Cup at that time, the Vietnamese team created a shock when they defeated Korea with a score of 1-0. The person who scored the only goal for the Vietnamese team was the hero, former prodigy Pham Van Quyen.
18 years have passed, the football gap between Vietnam and Oman has been significantly shortened. Oman is no longer a big force in Asia even though they often appear in the final qualifying round. Meanwhile, Vietnam has made great strides to be in the third qualifying round for the first time.
Coach Park Hang Seo has faced and lost before coach Branko Ivankovic. The world is round, after 19 years, the Korean strategist will have the opportunity to confront his colleague - the head coach of the Oman team, Mr. Branko Ivankovic.
In the 2002 Asian Cup, Korea U23 under the guidance of coach Park Hang Seo was defeated by Iran U23 under coach Ivankovic in the semi-finals of men's football. That match, U23 Korea and U23 Iran drew 0-0 after 120 minutes of play, and in a series of gunfights, Iran won 5-3 against Korea.
Iran U23 then won gold when defeating Japan U23 in the final.
What opportunities for the Vietnamese team?
The Vietnamese team could not get any points after the first 3 matches. The bottom place in the group is also what is expected of Vietnam in the first time trying its hand in the final qualifying round for the 12 strongest teams in Asia.
From an optimistic perspective, the Vietnamese team also more or less shows the lines in both attack and defense. Three goals in the first 3 matches also recognized the commendable efforts of the gold star warriors.
However, from a pessimistic perspective, in the 3 defeats of the Vietnamese team, people also see where our level is in the continental playground, the limitations of bodybuilding - physical strength, as well as personal opinion. tactical thinking...
According to the reviews, coach Park Hang Seo's teachers and students have brought emotional matches, and they deserve at least one draw in the three matches mentioned above.
Anyway, this is only the first time that Vietnam has participated in the final qualifying round of the region and battle experience is one of the problems that makes the gold star warriors lose to their rivals in the same group.
Over the past 4 years, Coach Park Hang Seo has proven himself to be the best foreign captain Vietnam has ever had to help his country's football reach out to the continent and the world.
In this fourth match, the Vietnamese team will have a trip to the yard of Oman.
It will not be easy for the Vietnamese team to avoid defeat on the opponent's field. Because in addition to class, inferior performance, disadvantage of the yard (and possibly the referee), the Vietnamese team also suffered a great loss with the injuries of many of the best pillars.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the front line, coach Ivankovic's army left a strong impression when defeating the brightest Japanese candidate in Group B. Overall, Oman is stronger than our team.
