Beating China PR was a gift for the fans, says Vietnam skipper Hung Dung
When Vietnam defeated China PR 3-1 on Matchday Eight of the AFC Asian Qualifiers – Road to Qatar™, not only did the Golden Star Warriors pick up their first points in Group B, they also achieved one of the greatest results in their history by overcoming their neighbours for the first time.
Making their maiden appearance in the final round of AFC Asian Qualifiers, the Southeast Asians had until then found the step up tough, with seven straight defeats preceding the famous win at the My Dinh Stadium.
A semi-final exit as holders of the 2020 AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) Cup in December also came as a huge blow, and, for the first time since a golden generation broke through by finishing as runners-up at the AFC U23 Asian Cup™ 2018 in China PR, Vietnam were experiencing a downturn in fortunes.
Head coach Park Hang-seo made the call to switch things up, installing Hanoi FC midfielder Do Hung Dung as the new captain, despite the combination of COVID-19 and a prolonged injury layoff having prevented the 28-year-old from turning out for the national team since late 2019.
And it was a near-perfect start because, after the defeat in Australia on Matchday Seven, Hung Dung returned to the Vietnamese capital to inspire his nation to a famous victory, creating two goals inside 20 minutes to stun the Chinese.
“Before the match against China PR we had suffered seven successive defeats, which is not surprising because it’s the first time we’ve appeared in the final round of qualifiers and we’re facing the best teams in Asia – like Japan, Australia and Saudi Arabia – who have played at many FIFA World Cups,” noted Hung Dung.
“Even China PR and Oman are ranked about 20 places above us, but to not have any points after seven games affected us psychologically as a team and reduced our fans’ belief in us. Therefore, we were so determined before the game against China, particularly as it was on the first day of the Vietnam Lunar New Year.
“We played with everything we had, with great spirit and determination not to give up, and we won 3-1. It was such a meaningful victory for Vietnamese football – not only was it a historic first three points and a great gift for the fans at New Year, but it also gave us more confidence to move forward with a positive mindset.”
Prior to the 4-0 loss in Australia five days earlier, Hung Dung’s last appearance for the Golden Star Warriors came in a goalless draw with Thailand in the second round of FIFA World Cup qualifying towards the end of 2019.
A leg-break in early 2021 ruled him out for most of the year, but, after Vietnam’s disappointment at the 2020 AFF Cup, head coach Park turned to a player who had been a key part of the 2018 AFF Cup-winning team and had subsequently reached the AFC Asian Cup™ UAE 2019 quarter-finals.
“I had just returned to the team after a long injury so I had to readjust to the squad. Fortunately, I got a lot of support from the coaching staff and my teammates, so everything went smoothly,” recalled Hung Dung.
“But, to be honest, I felt a bit of pressure when I was given the captain’s armband. However, it was only fleeting because I could see it in my teammates’ eyes, feel it in their handshakes, that they trusted me, so I knew I wasn’t alone.
“Anyone who is given the responsibility to lead the national team must try to achieve the goals that have been set by the coaching staff – build a unified team, help the new players and young players integrate, and work hard with positive energy so the team are together both on and off the pitch.”
On the pitch, Vietnam have the chance to follow up the win over China PR by recording back-to-back home victories when they play Oman at My Dinh Stadium on Thursday in their penultimate match in Group B.
The reverse fixture on Matchday Four saw the Southeast Asians go in front through Nguyen Tien Linh before succumbing to a 3-1 defeat. That came on the back of conceding in the fifth minute of stoppage time to lose 3-2 against China PR just days earlier as the opening stages of the campaign brought about plenty of misfortune.
But while any qualification hopes were dashed some time ago, the feel-good factor is back within the Vietnamese squad and, two points adrift of China PR, there remains a very realistic chance of catching their rivals with two games to spare.
With a trip to Saitama Stadium to face Japan on March 29, three points against the Omanis is likely a must if they are climb off the foot of the table.
“Even though we have faced such strong opponents in our first appearance at this stage, we always aim to pick up points,” said Hung Dung.
“The Oman players have pace and power, but we also have our strengths, especially when playing in front of our home support. It’s our last home game of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers so we want to bring more joy to our fans.”
“In this round, every opponent has been strong – the top level in Asia – so even if we compete at our very best, it’s difficult to close the gap. But there is a saying that the opponent is the best teacher, and the stronger the opponent, the more that can be learned.
“We may have lost seven matches in a row but we learned from each one, and I think we can only improve if we play regularly against high-class teams such as Japan. We have not always had the chance to compete against Asia’s elite teams, but this has given us valuable experience – physically and psychologically – so even though we can’t qualify for the FIFA World Cup, we cherish each match.”
Looking further ahead, Vietnam have already secured their place at the AFC Asian Cup China 2023™ as the Golden Star Warriors get set to appear for the second successive time. The new skipper, though, has raised the bar a notch higher.
“We are aiming to reach the 2026 FIFA World Cup, especially because the number of participants has been increased to 48.” he added.
“The matches we’ve played in the final round of qualifiers this time have given us a great experience and will improve our chances next time. But we know it won’t be easy because it’s not only Vietnam’s goal but also a huge target of other sides in Southeast Asia.”
