Vietnam’s Strategic Maneuvers Lead Philippines to Victory in Asian World Cup Qualifier Opener
The Vietnamese team showed several positive signs against familiar opponents, which was a refreshing change from their recent friendly matches. One possible explanation for this improvement, aside from the Philippine team’s lackluster performance, is the noticeable changes in Vietnam’s playing style. Surprise factor Overall, manager Philippe Troussier had his team stick to their ball control philosophy, a principle he has been diligently instilling in them. This was evident throughout the away game on Thursday. As a surprise element, the French coach deviated from the play style that didn’t involve a target striker and instead chose to start striker Nguyen Tien Linh. While Linh didn’t particularly outshine his teammates Nguyen Van Toan and Pham Tuan Hai, his skillful positioning and movement as a genuine striker created valuable space for them. This enabled them to launch dangerous attacks in the opponents’ penalty area. Notably, Toan’s opening goal in the 16th minute came from a...