Vietnam success can motivate neighbours, says Tien Linh
Buriram: Two years on from their runners-up finish in China PR, Vietnam go into the 2020 edition of the AFC U23 championship as one of the favourites. And in Nguyen Tien Linh, they have a man who could well be the difference between silver and gold for them.
Back in January 2018, the Golden Stars were within seconds of a penalty shootout against Uzbekistan when Andrey Sodorov struck late in extra time to end the Vietnamese dreams of continental glory.
In the two years since, Vietnam lifted the 2018 AFF Cup, reached the quarter-finals of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, won the 2019 SEA Games gold and added more talents to their ranks including 22-year-old Tien Linh.
“Vietnamese football has cemented its status in the past two years, and also demonstrated the development happening in the Southeast Asia region,” said the striker, currently plying his trade at four-time Vietnamese champions Becamex Binh Duong.
“This is a good sign for Vietnamese football as well as the region’s football which is maturing now. Apart from that, this progress also means Vietnamese football will gain more international attention.”
Tien Linh made headlines across the continent in November when his wonder strike from 30 yards out earned Vietnam a famous victory over West Asian powerhouse the UAE in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup Asian Qualifiers. On Friday, he lines up against many of the same players from that clash.
“The memory of that beautiful goal against the UAE makes me very happy. I want to repeat this achievement one more time; to score for the team and put in an impressive performance for the supporters.
With the AFC U23 Championship taking place in Thailand, it is Tien Linh and co who are carrying the flag for ASEAN nations alongside the hosts, and the forward who represented his country at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup has ambitions beyond performing well.
“I think that the development of Vietnamese football will help all Southeast Asian teams garner more motivation to strive forward to reach a new level in the region.
“For me, by the time I’m 30 years old, I would like to have played in many tournaments. My biggest ambition is to play the FIFA World Cup with Vietnam.”
