The friendly match against Vietnam was particularly notable, with Tan Long's header hitting the crossbar being the only highlight of the first half, while the internet was once again filled with taunts and collective jibes at the national team. Sports commentator Li Xuan said bluntly, "Vietnam turned into Barcelona in front of us?"
Coach Aleksandar Jankovic is under immense pressure after the recent lackluster performances of the national soccer team. In two friendly matches in September, the national soccer team first drew 1-1 with 54th-ranked Malaysia and then lost 0-1 to 13th-ranked Syria.
Entering October, the national soccer team faces Vietnam and Uzbekistan in back-to-back friendly matches. Vietnam is currently ranked 95th in the world rankings, 15 places lower than our country. But this former underdog has improved rapidly in recent years. Last year, they defeated our country in a World Cup qualifier, making the national soccer team qualified for the World Cup once again.In 2013, former international footballer Fan Zhiyi joked, "If you continue like this, you'll lose to Vietnam!" This remark has now been rehashed and seems to have become a kind of "divine prophecy".
The national team played in a 3-4-3 formation for this match. Wu Lei and Xie Pengfei partnered the front line, the hot Tan Long started and Dai Weijun came on as a substitute. In the first half, Tan Long's header hit the crossbar, Wu Lei missed a good opportunity, and the national football team and Vietnam drew 0-0.
Li Xuan commented, "Did Vietnam turn into Barcelona in front of us?" Sports blogger Tran Dung said, "The national soccer team was pushed several times, which was actually a 'formal push' and lacked aggression." After watching the first half, many sports journalists and fans have said: "I mistakenly thought we were playing with Japan ......" Another sports blogger "Patriotic Football University Mr. Wei" is more Another sports blogger, "Mr. Wei of the Patriotic Football University", even harshly criticized, "We can't see any tactics, and we don't have any strong points now." The criticisms on microblogs and on the Internet were like a collective mockery.
Faced with the performance of the national soccer team, Aleksandar Jankovic made a tactical change at half-time, replacing Dai Weijun and Wang Qiuming. The change paid off quickly as Liu Yang crossed from the left and substitute Wang Qiuming scored the first goal of the national soccer team in the 56th minute.
Before the end of the match, Nguyen Chin Ling and Chiang Quang Tai clashed, and after a VAR check, the referee showed a red card to Nguyen Chin Ling in the 86th minute. The national team, playing with 10 men, laid siege to Vietnam in the extra time. In the fifth minute of extra time, Wu Lei received a second header from Jiang Guangtai, but offside was ruled out. Wu Lei's solo goal in the eighth minute of extra time helped the national soccer team beat Vietnam 2-0, but he lost last year. This victory may temporarily ease the pressure of Aleksandar Jankovic's "dismissal".
Although the national soccer team won the game, the process is still full of bumps, Huang Jianxiang said, "Winning is good, can't ask for more."
