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Vietnam National Team squad appearing at the 2023 Asian Cup. Photo: Reuters
Former goalkeeper for the Vietnam National Team, Nguyen Manh Dung, strongly criticized The Golden Star – the nickname of the Vietnam National Team – after losing to Indonesia. Manh Dung said that the Vietnam national team was in such a poor condition that it had to cut generations.
Vietnam failed to bring home points from the Indonesian National Team's home ground, Gelora Bung Karno Main Stadium (SUGBK), Jakarta on Thursday (21/3/2024) evening WIB. The team made by Philippe Troussier narrowly lost with a score of 0-1.
Egy Maulana Vikri's single goal (52') frustrated the Vietnam National Team. Now, they have dropped one level to become third in the 2026 World Cup Qualification Group F standings in the Asian Zone.
After the match, Manh Dung satirized the Vietnam national team. According to him, The Golden Star is only as good as its coach thinks.
“Better than the entire Vietnam national team a few weeks or months ago. But better in the eyes of the coach,” said Manh Dung, quoted from Soha VN, Friday (22/3/2024).
Furthermore, Manh Dung doubts that the Vietnam National Team will develop if it does not change generations. According to him, Vietnam must cut generations to get young players who are fresh and more unified.
“For me, this team will decline in the next 3 years, then be replaced by a new generation, maybe there will be an opportunity,” said Manh Dung.
“I have said before, the coach is not the first and most important factor. The first is the human factor. Because being in a team is unavoidable, it is very difficult to change,” he said.
(sto)