Vietnam at the AFC Asian Cup

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National football teams from Vietnam has qualified for five AFC Asian Cups so far:

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With the establishment of the AFC Asian Cup in 1956, the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam), had made its first appearances in the two maiden 1956 and 1960 editions, since South Vietnam team was a member of FIFA in contrast to the national team of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam). South Vietnam won fourth place in both editions. By the end of the Vietnam War however, this would be Vietnam's only appearances in the AFC Asian Cup for 47 years, due to the country's total destruction aftermath and subsequent conflicts between Vietnam and its neighbours. This had a serious impact and weakened Vietnam from a football powerhouse into one of Asia's weakest teams.

After returning to football in the 1990s, Vietnam did not participate in the Asian Cup for 11 consecutive editions before being selected as host in 2007 together with Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia. Despite these 47 years of failing to qualify, Vietnam surprised the continent in 2007 with a 2–0 victory over the UAE, a draw with Qatar and in spite of losing 1–4 to Asia's giant Japan, Vietnam qualified to the quarter-finals while three other co-hosts failed to do so, before losing to eventual champions Iraq.

However, after the dramatic run in 2007, Vietnam failed to qualify again for the 2011 and 2015 editions, before finally returning in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. With the recent rise of Vietnamese football on the international stage, such as the participation of the futsal and U-20 team in the 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup and 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup; especially the Olympic team, which won the silver medal in the 2018 AFC U-23 Championship, Vietnam was expected to shine in the 2019 Asian Cup despite being positioned with so many hard and difficult opponents. Vietnam then reached the quarter-finals.

South Vietnam

1956 Asian Cup

South Vietnam participated in the inaugural edition of the Asian Cup, having edged Malaya in a 7–3 aggregate qualification, together with three other teams, host Hong Kong, South Korea and Israel. It would be Vietnam's debut in the Asian Cup. [1]

TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg  South Korea 321096+35
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 320165+14
Flag of Hong Kong 1955.svg  Hong Kong 302167−12
Flag of South Vietnam.svg  South Vietnam 301269−31

In the opening match against host Hong Kong, then-Asia's top teams, South Vietnam could manage only a 2–2 draw over the host.

South Vietnam  Flag of South Vietnam.svg2 – 2Flag of Hong Kong 1955.svg  Hong Kong
Trần Văn Tổng Soccerball shade.svg30'
Lê Hữu Đức Soccerball shade.svg64'
Chu Wing Wah Soccerball shade.svg59' (pen.)
Lau Chi Lam Soccerball shade.svg79'
Government Stadium, Hong Kong
Attendance: 30,000

In the second game, South Vietnam would have been edged, but not without putting a good fight towards Israel, in a 1–2 defeat.

Israel  Flag of Israel.svg2 – 1Flag of South Vietnam.svg  South Vietnam
Stelmach Soccerball shade.svg14', 27' Trần Văn Tổng Soccerball shade.svg58'
Government Stadium, Hong Kong
Attendance: 15,000
Referee: Tommy Tucker (England)

In the last match, South Vietnam and South Korea created a thriller, which ended with the 5–3 victory for the Koreans. Eventually, South Vietnam won fourth place for the first time, and also their best result to date.

South Korea  Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg5 – 3Flag of South Vietnam.svg  South Vietnam
Sung Nak-woon Soccerball shade.svg5'
Woo Sang-kwon Soccerball shade.svg41' (pen.), 58'
Choi Chung-min Soccerball shade.svg57', 66'
Trải Văn Đào Soccerball shade.svg20'
Lê Hữu Đức Soccerball shade.svg51', 63'
Government Stadium, Hong Kong
Attendance: 11,000

1960 Asian Cup

South Vietnam would have made their second debut in the tournament, after successfully edged Singapore and Malaya in the qualification round. In there, they once again faced South Korea and Israel, with debutant Republic of China. It would be a more disappointing performance than four years ago, as South Vietnam were all defeated in three matches, especially losing 1–5 to both South Korea and Israel. South Vietnam won fourth place twice, and it would have remained as Vietnam's only two appearances in the Asian Cup for the next 47 years. [1]

TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg  South Korea 330091+86
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 320164+24
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China 31022202
Flag of South Vietnam.svg  South Vietnam 3003212−100
South Korea  Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg5 – 1Flag of South Vietnam.svg  South Vietnam
Cho Yoon-ok Soccerball shade.svg15', 71'
Woo Sang-kwon Soccerball shade.svg27'
Choi Chung-min Soccerball shade.svg47'
Moon Jung-sik Soccerball shade.svg56'
Nguyễn Văn Tu Soccerball shade.svg70'
Hyochang Stadium, Seoul
Attendance: 30,000
South Vietnam  Flag of South Vietnam.svg1 – 5Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
Trần Văn Nhung Soccerball shade.svg68' (pen.) R. Levi Soccerball shade.svg13'
Stelmach Soccerball shade.svg18'
S. Levi Soccerball shade.svg25'
Menchel Soccerball shade.svg32'
Aharonskind Soccerball shade.svg70'
Hyochang Stadium, Seoul
Attendance: 15,000

Since then, due to the later Vietnam War and subsequent conflicts, Vietnam could not play any big tournament for the next 47 years, before returning to international stage in 2007.

Socialist Republic of Vietnam

2007 Asian Cup

In 2004, Vietnam, together with Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand were awarded as hosts for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, signalled the return of a national team from Vietnam after 47 years. However, Vietnam was pushed into a tough group, consisting three champions: Japan, then-Asian champions; the United Arab Emirates, then-Gulf champions and Qatar, with the squad mostly made up from 2006 Asian Games in which Qatar won the gold medal. Being in a tough group, Vietnam was not expected to pass through nor even having a point, but rather just a point basket for these teams.

Nonetheless, under Austrian manager Alfred Riedl, Vietnam stunned all predictions. In the opening account, Vietnam surprised by defeating Gulf champions UAE, before drew another Gulf team, Qatar. Although losing the final match against Japan, Vietnam wrote history as the only host to qualify for the tournament's quarter-finals while Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia failed to do so. [2] However, Vietnam would have to end their fairytale after being defeated by latter champion Iraq. It remains as Vietnam's best performance ever since the reunification of Vietnam. [3]

Group stage

TeamPldWDLGFGAGDPts
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 321083+57
Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 311145−14
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 310236−33
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 302134−12
Qatar  Flag of Qatar.svg 1–1 Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam
Soria Soccerball shade.svg79' Report Phan Thanh Bình Soccerball shade.svg32'
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Masoud Moradi (Iran)
Vietnam  Flag of Vietnam.svg 1–4 Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Suzuki Soccerball shade.svg8' (o.g.) Report Maki Soccerball shade.svg12', 59'
Endō Soccerball shade.svg31'
S. Nakamura Soccerball shade.svg53'
Attendance: 40,000

Knockout stage

Quarter-finals
Iraq  Flag of Iraq (2004-2008).svg 2–0 Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam
Mahmoud Soccerball shade.svg2', 65' Report
Attendance: 9,720

2019 Asian Cup

Vietnam would have to wait for another twelve years to return for the AFC Asian Cup, this time to be hosted in the UAE. By then, Vietnam was placed with strong opponents, including two former Asian champions, Iran and Iraq, with the unknown debutant Yemen. This is the third time Vietnam was drawn with Asia's no. 1 team, this time is Iran, after having drawn with South Korea in two inaugural editions, and Japan in 2007 editions.

Although Vietnam showed a great effort in the first two matches,[ citation needed ] the young team could not get any point. In the last match against Yemen, Quang Hai scored a goal before Ngoc Hai secured a win for Vietnam by a successful penalty kick. Vietnam had to wait until the last match of the group stage between Lebanon and North Korea to see the team can go to the knock-out stage. Vietnam and Lebanon finished their matches with their same statistics. However, Vietnam was the last team to enter Round of 16 by having a higher discipline score (Vietnam −5, Lebanon −7). This is the second time Vietnam qualified for the knock-out stage.

Vietnam was considered as the underdogs when facing Jordan in the Round of 16. Jordan did not concede any goal in the group stage after two wins against the defending champion Australia and Syria, and a draw with Palestine after already qualified to the knock-out stage as group winner. However, Jordan decided to play defensively and Vietnam dominated the match. After 120 minutes, the score was 1–1. Vietnam won the match after the penalty shootout and qualified to the quarterfinals.

Vietnam faced Japan, the most successful team at the Asian Cup, in the quarterfinals. It was the first match ever of the Asian Cup history using VAR. Japan was denied a goal in the first half and awarded a penalty in the second half – which was converted into the only goal of the match.

Group state

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 321070+77Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 321062+47
3Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 31024513
4Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 3003010100
Source: AFC
Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg 3–2 Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam
Report
Vietnam  Flag of Vietnam.svg 0–2 Flag of Iran.svg  Iran
Report
Attendance: 10,841
Vietnam  Flag of Vietnam.svg 2–0 Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen
Report
Attendance: 8,237
Referee: Ahmed Al-Kaf (Oman)

Knockout stage

Round of 16
Quarter-finals
Vietnam  Flag of Vietnam.svg 0–1 Flag of Japan.svg  Japan
Report

2023 Asian Cup

In June 2021, Vietnam officially advanced into the third round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, which also automatically qualified the team to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup . [4]

In the third Asian Cup since the country's reunification, Vietnam was grouped with Japan, Iraq and Indonesia in Group D. [5] At the dawn of the tournament, the team left with many doubts due to the absence of key players like Đặng Văn Lâm, Đoàn Văn Hậu, Quế Ngọc Hải or Nguyễn Tiến Linh due to injuries. The Golden Star Warriors were then forced to deal with a talented but inexperienced squad with an average age of 25. New hard blows were then added with the forfeit of Nguyễn Hoàng Đức, 2021 Vietnamese Golden Ball, who also failed to recover from his injury. [6]

Group stage

PosTeamPldWDLGFGAGDPtsQualification
1Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 330084+49Advance to knockout stage
2Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 320185+36
3Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 31023633
4Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam 30034840
Source: AFC
Japan  Flag of Japan.svg 4–2 Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam
Report
Attendance: 17,385

Vietnam  Flag of Vietnam.svg 0–1 Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia
Report

Iraq  Flag of Iraq.svg 3–2 Flag of Vietnam.svg  Vietnam
Report

Top goalscorers

South Vietnam goalscorers
#PlayerGoalsLatest goalsVenue
1 Flag of South Vietnam.svg Lê Hữu Đức3Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea , 15 September 1956 Flag of Hong Kong 1955.svg Government Stadium, Hong Kong
2 Flag of South Vietnam.svg Trần Văn Tổng2Flag of Israel.svg  Israel , 12 September 1956
3 Flag of South Vietnam.svg Trải Văn Đào1Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea , 15 September 1956 Flag of Hong Kong 1955.svg Government Stadium, Hong Kong
Flag of South Vietnam.svg Nguyễn Văn TuFlag of South Korea.svg  South Korea , 14 October 1960 Flag of South Korea.svg Hyochang Stadium, Seoul
Flag of South Vietnam.svg Trần Văn NhungFlag of Israel.svg  Israel , 19 October 1960
Vietnam goalscorers
#PlayerGoalsLatest goalsVenue
1 Flag of Vietnam.svg Nguyễn Công Phượng 2Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan , 20 January 2019 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
2 Flag of Vietnam.svg Huỳnh Quang Thanh 1Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates , 8 July 2007 Flag of Vietnam.svg Mỹ Đình National Stadium, Hà Nội
Flag of Vietnam.svg Lê Công Vinh Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates , 8 July 2007
Flag of Vietnam.svg Phan Thanh Bình Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar , 12 July 2007
Flag of Vietnam.svg Nguyễn Quang Hải Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen , 16 January 2019 Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
Flag of Vietnam.svg Quế Ngọc Hải

Overview

As South Vietnam

AFC Asian Cup record AFC Asian Cup qualification
YearResultPos.PldWDLGFGAPldWDLGFGA
Flag of Hong Kong 1876.svg 1956 Fourth Place4/4301269211073
Flag of South Korea (1949-1984).svg 1960 Fourth Place4/43003212220051
Flag of Israel.svg 1964 Did not qualify320197
State Flag of Iran (1964).svg 1968 420244
Flag of Thailand.svg 1972 WithdrewWithdrew
State Flag of Iran (1964).svg 1976 Did not qualify4004110
TotalBest: Fourth place2/66015821157172625

Record by opponent

AFC Asian Cup matches (by team)
OpponentPldWDLGFGAGD
Flag of Hong Kong.svg  Hong Kong 1010220
Flag of Israel.svg  Israel 200227–5
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  Republic of China 100102–2
Flag of South Korea.svg  South Korea 2002410–6

As Vietnam

AFC Asian Cup record AFC Asian Cup qualification
YearResultPos.PldWDLGFGAPldWDLGFGA
1976 to 1992Did not enterDid not enter
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 1996 Did not qualify3201135
Flag of Lebanon.svg 2000 3201142
Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg 2004 6303813
Flag of Indonesia.svgFlag of Malaysia.svgFlag of Thailand.svgFlag of Vietnam.svg 2007 Quarter-finals8/16411247Host
Flag of Qatar.svg 2011 Did not qualify6123611
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2015 6105515
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg 2019 Quarter-finals8/24511357124531611
Flag of Qatar.svg 2023 Group Stage22/243003488521135
TotalBest: Quarter-finals3/1312228132244189197062

Record by opponent

AFC Asian Cup matches (by team)
OpponentPldWDLGFGAGD
Flag of Indonesia.svg  Indonesia 100101–1
Flag of Iran.svg  Iran 100102–2
Flag of Iraq.svg  Iraq 300348–4
Flag of Japan.svg  Japan 300339–6
Flag of Jordan.svg  Jordan 1010110
Flag of Qatar.svg  Qatar 1010110
Flag of the United Arab Emirates.svg  United Arab Emirates 110020+2
Flag of Yemen.svg  Yemen 110020+2

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References

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