Viet
Nam has its work cut out for defending its title at the ASEAN Football
Federation (AFF) Cup 2010 Championship next month, with opponents keen to prove
their mettle, and its own preparations going through a sticky patch.

Work cut out: Vietnamese national players train in preparation for the AFF Cup. (Photo: VNS)

The national team have
had a poor record since being crowned champion at the region’s biggest football
competition in 2008. The team failed to qualify for the Asian Football
Confederation (AFC) Cup and have had an unimpressive run of results in the lead
to the upcoming AFF championship.

The team lost all
three friendlies this year against German Bundesliga team Eintracht Franfurt,
India and Kuwait; and put in a disappointingly lacklustre performance in two
international tournaments in Ha Noi, including a draw with a depleted Singapore
team.

But what makes fans
even more nervous is that head coach Henrique Calisto was having a lot of
difficulty in forging a framework that is effective in both attack and defence.

The position of
goalkeeper is perhaps less of a headache for Calisto with Bui Tan Truong and
Duong Hong Son both playing well and having no injury problems.

The defence also has
experienced players like Vu Nhu Thanh, Nguyen Huy Hoang, Le Phuoc Tu and Nguyen
Minh Duc. These players need to practise together to increase the understanding
and flow between them.

The midfield would be
more of a concern for Calisto, with both Nguyen Minh Phuong and Phan Van Tai Em
a little bit older and likely to find it difficult to compete at their peak
level for the whole of a tense game. However, Phuong and Em will be supported by
the powerful Nguyen Trong Hoang and skilful Pham Thanh Luong.

The lack of attacking
options is probably the most difficult problem for Calisto at the moment, as
first-choice strikers Nguyen Viet Thang and Le Cong Vinh are injured and not
sure of being able to play.

Nguyen Quang Hai seems
to perform better as a substitute.

Le Sy Manh seems to
need more experience of big tournaments while Nguyen Anh Duc has inexplicably
refused to play for the national team.

Determined
opponents

Viet Nam’s title
defence gets even harder as key opponents are even more determined than ever to
win the coveted trophy.

Among the main
contenders, Thailand are still the favourites. They have hired Bryan Robson
(former English international) and would surely have mapped out plans to take
back the title they have missed since 2002.

Indonesia, meanwhile,
have been inspired by Viet Nam’s victory and are entertaining title ambitions as
well. They have hired Alfred Riedl, former Viet Nam coach who has a lot of
experience in Southeast Asia, to help end their medal drought.

Moreover, Indonesia
has Uruguayan-born Christian Gonzales, who has been the top scorer in the
Indonesia Super League for five seasons. Gonzales, along with Bambang Pamungkas
and Boaz Solossa can prove a threat to other teams.

The Indonesia Football
Federation has reportedly given Riedl an ultimatum: win the AFF Cup 2010 or lose
the job.

After taking part many
tournaments in Viet Nam, Singaporean coach Radojko Abramovic seemed to have
figured out the solution to contain the Vietnamese team.

Singapore’s Olympic
team and national team both fared well against Viet Nam in recent tournaments in
the country, not losing any of their matches against the host.

Singapore also has a
squad of experienced players like three naturalised Aleksandar Duric, Agu
Casmir, Daniel Bennett and Lionel Lewis. They are going to be a difficult team
to beat.

Malaysia and Myanmar
will certainly pull out all the stops as well to spring a surprise after they
failed to qualify for the semi-final two years ago.

The Philippines and
Laos, qualifiers, also promise to cause difficulties for strong teams with the
progress they have shown recently. The Philippines in particular, with English
coach Simon McMenemy can prove a handful for their opponents. Their midfielder
Jason De Jong and goalkeeper Neil Etheridge are both playing football in Europe.

VietNamNet/Viet
Nam News