As fans of Australian football, we have a tendency to hype up our own talented young players – especially in matches against opponents from the Asian confederation that the average joe believes to be inadequate.
Former minnow Vietnam have spent significant money in recent years overhauling their youth programs. Although not able to qualify at senior level for the 2022 Qatar World Cup, they caused issues in patches during qualifying matches and their Under 20 side showed just how capable they were, in beating Australia last night.
While many consider this to be the best young Socceroos team talent wise since the 90’s, Australian football was yet again taught a harsh lesson about the perils of tournament football in Asia.
Vietnam were expected to finish bottom of group B, but once again showed how far they have come in youth football, with a plucky 1-0 victory against the green and gold. The result means Australia is already in danger of not qualifying and finishing last in the group, especially with tougher tasks to come against Iran and Qatar.
It was a chilly 4 degrees in Fergana and the pitch possessed the same issue for both sets of players, yet it was the theatrics of the Vietnamese players and the very strict officiating that continued to see Australia bamboozled, even after being a part of the Asian Confederation for 17 years.
At the slightest of touches, the referee blew his whistle to stop play – this was a sign for the Vietnamese players to milk more seconds out of the contest by rolling around on the ground and take their time getting up.
Panashe Madanha (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
Multiple Australian players and coaching staff were upset about this stalling tactic, yet these types of theatrics have proved successful against Australia teams when playing in this part of the world for many years.
Excluding the theatrics, Vietnam were well worth the 3 points.
The technical skills and ability of the much unheralded Vietnamese starting XI was on full display, with their players ball control a particular highlight. More importantly, with what is going wrong with youth development in Australia?
The gold stars were happy to allow Australia to have the lion’s share of possession over 90 minutes, knowing they could lay in wait and counter attack.
Striker Viet Quoc Nguyen scored the solitary goal of the match, rifling a shot from 20 meters that left goalkeeper Jack Warshawsky grasping for air. The most alarming aspect of the goal was the amount of time and space afforded to Nguyen – Australia did not attempt to close him down, until it was too late.
In the second half, Australia was lucky not be two goals down, when Nhan Thanh Nguyen dragged his shot wide, with just Warshawsky to beat. Australia’s best chances fell to Gabriel Popovich who may feel he could’ve done better in directing two separate headers on target.
Coach Trevor Morgan tried his best to change things with an attack-minded triple substitution after the break – but his side could not breach a very disciplined Vietnamese outfit.
One of the substitutes, Bernado, drew the ire of many fans on social media for his lacklustre cameo. The criticism was unfair, especially as the player has only just returned to training with his club side after being out injured for five months.
Head coach Trevor Morgan has plenty to think about. (Photo by Alexandre Schneider – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
Bernado replaced another former South Australian prodigy, who showed how effective he can be when actually given game time. Raphael has had to wait patiently trying to break into the A Leagues’ best attack at Melbourne City – playing only 11 games in 3 years.
He is an immensely talented player and with a contract expiring very soon, the time is right to part ways in the search of regular playing time.
Coach Trevor Morgan will need to regroup his troops quickly, with upcoming matches against Asian youth heavyweights Iran & Qatar. It has been a poor start to the tournament and not what Aussie fans had hoped for after the Socceroo successes of 2022.
Kewell
Roar Rookie
Scout, countries like Vietnam can pick the best our best are playing AFL, ARL Cricket and Basketball.
Kewell
Roar Rookie
Same issues time and again. Can’t hold the ball under pressure, passing slow, no lack of pace and inaccurate, lack of athleticism means we will always struggle. Morgan’s record is less than impressive, loosing to the Uzbecks should never happen we need and must do better in these age groups.
Grem
Roar Rookie
And they came back from 1-0 down and having lost their first game. That was a great effort.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Ended up winning 9-1. Very exciting future coming up.
Grem
Roar Rookie
And they’re 4-1 up at half time against Qatar. If they win, they’re through and they’re now gaining confidence and fluency.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Just watched the highlights so far great play by Segecic but the elephant or more like the giraffe in the room is Popovic. For two of the goals he just stands in the center of the penalty, he should be running somwhere not dawdling along. If he ran to the near post he could get away from his marker and have a shot then you drag players away and open up room for others.
Garry
Roar Rookie
willl he be available next week to replace Burgess? :stoked: :silly:
Grem
Roar Rookie
3-2 win to Australia v Iran - that was good to see. One more win please.
Punter
Roar Rookie
The boys just beat Iran 3-2 with Segecic scoring a double, this boy looks like he has a big future.
Christian Montegan
Roar Pro
Nice article. A big part of the issue is and always has been the lack of regular playing time these kids get not only at their youth teams but also the first team. It’s no secret that the development of Australian players and the grassroots system has fallen so far backwards compared to the likes of Vietnam and other Asian countries. Until more investment is implemented and a clear plan is set for what we want our youth national sides to achieve, inconsistent results are going to be the norm unfortunately
Sports
Guest
The goal in football is to score a goal for all players on the field. It’s incredible that any coach thinks of teaching players anything else.
NoMates
Roar Rookie
LOL nothing new here to see move on, BTW when was the last time we beat Loas? Our youth just cant cut it when push comes to shove, and they fold. Anyway they wont make it out of the group and maybe some of these players cant turn out for the ALW.
TenTribesOfTexas
Guest
Excuses for Benardo. Why play him at all if he isn't match fit? That's a no brainer. Australian teams have never come to grips with the asian style played by Japan, Sth Korea and now Vietnam. The lack of tall forwards and height generally means these teams rely on fast counter attacking breaks out of defence generally with long through balls to their small fast forwards. To counter that strategy the opponent needs a fast centreback or fast defensive mid or even a fast sweeper yet Australian coaches cannot seem to adapt to that Asian style. They're insist on ye old English style of slow tall cbs that get caught out on the fast break
Will
Guest
This game best illustrates the problems the youth national teams have had in the last 10 years, the inability to create high quality chances against deep block defences. The style of play is very predictable and Asian teams probably know this as well, just give the Aussies the ball and they have little clue how to break us down and hit them on the counter and target the free spaces in behind. The coaching curriculum needs revamp, all about lack of opportunities and match minutes are valid and safe points but the constant inability to break down defences in Asia is a common theme watching these youth teams in action in the last 10 years and little if not nothing has changed. So maybe the coaching needs to change to reflect football in 2023 and beyond? Maybe more emphasis on creativity and less structure and robotic play? Whats Ernie Merrick doing about this? Something needs to change because its becoming quite predicable to see.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
how many of these squad members have been playing weekly for their club's sides this season? (thats another issue to take into consideration)
Harry Brill
Roar Rookie
Watched the game and was frustrated with the opportunities that went missing. Correctly mentioned, Popovic should have scored the equaliser (if not the winner also). I would have liked to see Jing Reec substituted on earlier. He has good size and would have forced the Vietnamese to adjust to his threat. You’re absolutely right SS – these lessons are valuable and, hopefully, the missing 3 points is worth the experience and memory of how… not to play. Nonetheless, our youngsters coming through are better than those of five and ten years past – they’re the product of a more mature line of A-League academies which was always going to happen.
Hopper
Roar Rookie
This is a coaching issue here full stop.
chris
Guest
Not sure what the answer is Grem. I always let my players express themselves and the only parameter I put on them is that they work within a certain structure (ie mainly on the defensive side). Going forwards I let them express themselves in the main. Are other coaches allowing that? Some players come to me and they say "the previous coach said I was only allowed 2 touches". Not sure how a player is meant to develop dribbling, 1v1 technique etc if restricted to 2 touch.
TheSecretScout
Roar Guru
100% - plenty of players have looked like superstars at 16 and then completely left the sport by the age 20 vietnam have spent a lot more money on youth developement in the past several years compared to australia, they are no longer easy beats in this part of the world. the bigger issue is that sides in asia are happy to give australia the ball, because they know australian teams will just recycle the posession - rather than being able to penetrate complaints against the 'dark arts' of asian football in terms of players and officiating ae justified, but at the end of the day its still 11 vs 11 i would hate to see the wage difference of the australian players at thier club sides compared to the vietnamese players
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
full replay here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ctLckDtLVA just watching it they are playing well the problem is Popovic. Twice he failed to make the run to the near post . He loses the ball and falls over a lot. Coach would be sacked after that if I was in charge. Vietnam dont look that good, their goal came from ridiculous defending from the no4 just backed off for no reason and let the Vietnam player collect the ball and go towards goal.