Mr. Phan Anh Tu: 'Vietnam is still Southeast Asian women's football power'

- From the position of defending champion, Vietnam lost to the Philippines 0-4 in the semifinals and then lost in the bronze HC match with Myanmar. How do you assess the journey of the home team in the AFF Women's Cup 2022?

I think the team has done an excellent job. We can't just look at one tournament to evaluate, we need to look at the whole process. After qualifying for the World Cup and winning the 31st SEA Games gold medal at home, the AFF Cup is the tournament at the end of the euphoria cycle. The team's fitness and fitness have all gone down. This is a matter of the law of circadian rhythm.

Moreover, Vietnam encounters a completely European-style rival. The loss of form can be seen very clearly. In women's football, the bodybuilding factor is very important because the skill and sophistication are not high. A team with good shape and fitness easily creates superiority despite simple kicking.

After nearly seven years, Vietnam has lost to a Southeast Asian rival. Do you think this is the end of a cycle of success?

Vietnam remains a force in Southeast Asia. But for the Philippines, we can't judge them by the same name as before. This is a team built entirely on American, European or world-leading football players. It is difficult to compare a Southeast Asian team with such an opponent.

The Philippines do not naturalize one or two players, like their men's teams. If they do so, they only add to overcome some of the disadvantages. Over here, they launched a squad of naturalized players, up to 9 or 10 people. It's about changing the nature of the team. With women's football, the superiority is more pronounced.

- The Vietnamese men's team has been successful in narrowing the physical and physical gap with the top teams. How does the women's team do that?

There are two problems. First, it's not easy to get in shape like them. It has to do with the issue of race. If you want to fight teams that excel in bodybuilding, fitness, skills must be much better. Of course, the body shape must also be slightly improved. Solving these two problems takes time and long-term investment.

- Will the 2022 AFF Cup championship open the period when Philippine women's football dominated Southeast Asia?

- It depends on whether they can get as many people as the last AFF Cup? Admittedly, the development of Philippine women's football is unstable. No one can guarantee how many members they call from this championship squad to play the next tournament. Overseas players will be busy playing for the club, studying or doing family work. The problem with teams that depend on naturalized players is that they can't master time, people. There will always be questions asked about where this player is, why not focus on this tournament...?

If you call up enough squads, the Philippines will be very strong. Without a few people, the story would be different. The dominance of the Philippines is not the result of the development of a football background. Therefore, despite playing overwhelmingly in the AFF Cup, it is difficult to say that they will dominate Southeast Asia for a long time.

- What are the positives and negatives when a strong team like the Philippines appears in Southeast Asia?

In the past, Southeast Asian women's football had the presence of the Australian team. Now, there's more Philippines. As such, there will be two teams that excel in bodybuilding and class. The good thing is that Southeast Asian players will have the condition to rub shoulders with players at a higher level, thereby more mature.

In the tournament with Australia, Vietnamese women's football was ranked second in the region. At the time, I was the leader of the team. We didn't lose to any team in Southeast Asia, but we couldn't beat Australia. In essence, Vietnam tops Southeast Asia but in tournaments, the second place is still the second place. In front of it is a large rock named After Australia. Now, there will be more Filipino rocks with fully naturalized players. And Vietnam's achievement story may be more difficult. But anyway, playing against opponents at a higher level, the player will mature. That is the story that happens to the men's team or the clubs in the V-League, when the presence of foreign strikers has helped the defenders get better and better. Playing regularly against such opponents also helps Vietnam not be surprised when meeting the top teams in the world.

- How do you assess the current role of coach Mai Duc Chung?

- This issue must let experts of the Vietnam Football Federation answer. Everyone knows that it is necessary to find the appropriate coach for the people and the play of the Vietnamese team. But what is appropriate? We cannot call naturalized players like the Philippines and appoint an Australian coach. Unable to invite a famous coach and believe that person will succeed. Foreign coaches can work well with star players, but the team training is not necessarily surpassing the domestic coach. All options are good if it brings in accordance.