Asian Cup gift sends immature Vietnam soaring
- Vietnam finished as Asia’s best movers in December
- They leapfrogged Philippines to tip mark in South-east Asia
- Ascendance came on a behind of AFC Asian Cup qualification
As usual, a finish of a past year was comparatively still on universe football, with small change function among a tip teams in December’s FIFA/Coca Cola World Ranking. There were, however, ups and downs in South-east Asia, with Vietnam’s hulk pierce adult a tellurian ladder a many notable. Under a superintendence of Korean manager Park Hangseo, a Golden Dragons surged 13 places to 112 and emerged as Asia’s best movers after finishing a year on a high.
The double-digit stand not usually noted their best position given 2012, though also saw them strech a limit in South-east Asia, dislodging Philippines as a top-ranked side in a region. By doing so, a Vietnamese dull off a noted year during that they continued their ceiling arena by rising 24 places in a universe pecking order.
Asian Cup return
The pushing force behind their poignant upwards pierce was their successful subordinate debate for a 2019 AFC Asian Cup. They have so distant confirmed an undefeated record after 5 games, formula that have hermetic their place among a tip dual in their subordinate group, and with it, a berth in a continental finals.
Vietnam softened diversion after diversion in qualifying, notwithstanding removing off to a delayed start. They came divided with a indicate in Afghanistan before pity a booty again in a goalless pull with Jordan during home. However, they found their feet in their subsequent tour opposite Cambodia by induction a 2-1 feat before a 5-0 drubbing of a same side put them on a verge of qualification.
FT: VIE 0 – 0 AFG
Vietnam sign their place in a #AsianCup2019 after personification out to a goalless pull with Afghanistan in a #ACQ2019 Group C clash! pic.twitter.com/8Mtmm6v8Iv
— #AsianCup2019 (@afcasiancup) November 14, 2017
The determining compare came on 14 November, when they entertained Afghanistan. With both sides confronting must-win scenarios, a visitors took a diversion to a Vietnamese and forged out distant some-more chances. The hosts, however, shielded gallantly to keep Afghanistan during bay, as they cumulative a indicate that hermetic their fourth Asian Cup appearance.
“We did not win a game, though one indicate is adequate to go to a Asian Cup,” Park pronounced after a pull with Afghanistan. “We did not play good today, though a players attempted their best. We did not have adequate time to uncover a ability. But all will be improved when we have some-more time operative together.”
Changing of a ensure
Even some-more considerable was a fact that Vietnam achieved gift success with a transitory side. The changing of a ensure began dual years ago with a array of veterans, including a mythological Le Cong Vinh, creation approach for younger talent. Inheriting a captain’s armband from Le was Nguyen Van Quyet, who is now a team’s tip scorer in Asian Cup subordinate with dual goals.
No1 goalkeeper Nguyen Tuan Mạnh put in a span of shining displays opposite Afghanistan, while a gifted Dinh Thanh Trung was a male pushing a midfield, alongside rising star Luong Xuan Truong, who plies his trade with K League bar Gangwon FC in Korea Republic.
With half of a group underneath 23 years of age, Park has a earnest patrol during his disposal. It includes immature goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung, defender Tran Dinh Trong, midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai, and striker Ha Duc Chinh, all of whom featured for their nation during a FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic 2017.
Having had their general benediction during girl level, a party graduated to a comparison squad, with that they wish to make serve progress. Blessed with such a immature stand of talent, Vietnam should be good able of creation serve gains in a FIFA World Ranking in a future.
Article source: http://www.fifa.com/fifa-world-ranking/news/y=2018/m=1/news=asian-cup-qualification-sends-young-vietnam-soaring-2925971.html