Thai fans: 'Vietnam can run for 90 minutes in the World Cup'
On Thailand's largest forum, Pantip, Vietnam's defeat to the US on July 22 is a topic of debate, because also in the opening match of the 2019 World Cup four years ago, Thailand lost 0-13 to the US. Account 6235647 opened with the comment: "When Vietnam lost to the US 0-2 after the first half, I thought their end would be like Thailand. However, they only lost one more goal in the second half. However, I guarantee Vietnam will lose all three matches in the group stage and score no goals."
Thailand's defeat to the US four years ago is the most disparate score in World Cup history, whether men's or women's. They finished the tournament with three defeats, scoring one and conceding 20 goals. "The score 0-13 is really bad and then people say it's important to gain experience," commented account 7167454. "But since then Thailand has not won a gold medal at the SEA Games."
And Vietnam started the 2023 World Cup with a 0-3 loss to the US, in addition, goalkeeper Tran Thi Kim Thanh also pushed the penalty kick of star striker Alex Morgan at the end of the first half. Account 7288875 predicted that Vietnam would not lose as heavily as Thailand, but was still surprised by the football style of Mai Duc Chung's teachers and students. "Despite losing, Vietnam ran a lot and fought in every phase," this person wrote. "Thailand also conceded only three goals in the first half, but exhausted in the second half and lost another 10 goals. And Vietnam ran for 90 minutes, must admire them at that point."
This fan also said that maybe Vietnam could put "trump card" Nguyen Thi Thanh Nha for the second match against Portugal. "I like this player and maybe she will be used to help Vietnam beat Portugal, because their captain is also playing there," this account added.
On the football section of the world's largest forum Reddit, many fans were also surprised by Vietnam's performance in the first time playing in the World Cup. BarbaricGamer account AZ Alkmaar club fan wrote: "Vietnam played much better than I thought, especially goalkeeper Kim Thanh with an impressive performance".
The members of this forum highly appreciate the 30-year-old goalkeeper, when she repeatedly saves or rushes to punch the ball to rescue. The US crossed the ball 50 times in this match, but Kim Thanh over 10 times rushed out to solve it. Booty_vuitton account commented: "Kim Thanh is only 1.65 m tall, but watching this match we don't see her that low". And Tsquared10 responded: "I was convinced that the US could take advantage of the low body of the Vietnamese goalkeeper to hang the ball over her head. But no, she rushed out and challenged every cross."
Vietnam did not finish a single time, and the US had 28 opportunities but squandered 25 situations. "America is too ungrateful in front of goal," commented ITickleMyElbows. "The physical difference between the two teams is too obvious." And DocQuanta wrote: "People can ask the US to win more, but Vietnam has no chance to score. Their strategy is not to earn a draw, but to concede as few goals as possible."
After the match, coach Mai Duc Chung expressed satisfaction with the result, when the US was ranked number one in the world. Vietnam will meet an easier opponent in the second match, against Portugal at Waikato Stadium, Hamilton City on July 27. Portugal also attended the World Cup for the first time, standing at 21st place in FIFA, 11 places higher than Vietnam.
