Football

HÀ NỘI  As the decisive phase of this year's ASEAN Cup approaches, midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải is giving an exceptional performance. His contributions are crucial for the Vietnamese team as they aim to distinguish themselves from the rest of Southeast Asian football and reclaim the regional championship.

When Việt Nam won the ASEAN Cup in 2018, Hải was at his peak and was named the tournament's best player. However, more recently, the Hà Nội Police midfielder struggled with his form against Pau FC in France. His lack of form contributed to the Vietnamese team's inability to secure the ASEAN championship trophy in both 2020 and 2022. In both tournaments, Việt Nam were defeated by Thailand in the semi-finals and finals.

Despite these setbacks, Hải remained a key figure for the Vietnamese team, renowned in media across the region. The Thai press frequently compared him to 'Thai Messi' Chanathip Songkrasin, recognising both as the top attacking midfielders in Southeast Asian football over the past decade.

Former coach of the U20 and U23 Vietnamese teams Hoàng Anh Tuấn praised Hải, stating: "He is the best player to create breakthroughs on the Vietnamese team. He can pass, dribble or shoot, offering many options to his team. His free kicks are particularly dangerous."

These insights highlight Hải's potential to be a game-changer for Việt Nam, and that impact is becoming evident in the ongoing ASEAN Cup 2024.

In the two matches where Hải played in the starting lineup this year, he scored crucial goals. His first goal secured a 1-0 victory over Indonesia, and his second increased the lead to 3-0 against Myanmar, breaking their spirit.

Both goals resulted from his ability to capitalise on rebounds from the opponent's defence, showcasing his powerful shots from close to the 16.5m line. This adds a valuable mid-range shooting option to the Vietnamese team’s attack, complementing the close-range efforts of strikers like Xuân Sơn, Tiến Linh and Vĩ Hào.

Beyond his goals, Hải also made a successful assist for Văn Toàn in the match against Laos and struck the Myanmar goal post with a free kick. These performances confirm coach Tuấn's observations that Hải is regaining the form that helped Việt Nam win the ASEAN Cup in 2018.

With Hải finding his rhythm again, it may be the perfect opportunity for the Vietnamese team to reclaim the ASEAN Cup championship, which they lost to Thailand in the past two tournaments. VNS