{"id":3965,"date":"2024-01-14T10:52:13","date_gmt":"2024-01-14T00:22:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/?p=3965"},"modified":"2026-09-25T14:30:41","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T05:00:41","slug":"vietnam-football-waiting-to-erupt-troussier","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/vietnam-football-waiting-to-erupt-troussier\/","title":{"rendered":"Vietnam football waiting to erupt: Troussier"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u2018Here we have amazing energy, it\u2019s like we are sitting on a volcano.\u2019<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

They were the words that Philippe Troussier said to me five years ago about the potential of Vietnamese football as we stood on the sprawling grounds of the PVF Academy on the outskirts of Hanoi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This afternoon, he will step off the crater and stare down the nation whose footballing rise he helped to chart as Vietnam face Japan in their Asian Cup opener.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the hallmarks of Troussier\u2019s long career has been his ability to tap into elements of national identity, to forge a spirit of belief and foster a culture of success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From those early days overseeing the academy setup he already had a sense that something special was possible, telling me that there\u2019s \u2018strong potential\u2019 for Vietnam to make their mark not just on the continental stage, but on the global one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe know the story of this country over the last century and there is a strong identity of the flag and the nation where they have a big pride for their country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Philippe Troussier during his time at the PVF Academy in Hanoi (Photo: Scott McIntyre)<\/strong><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cOf course if we compare things to Japan or Korea then the technical level is maybe not the same but if Vietnam can play with their identity and their culture then there is the power to make big achievements because in terms of mentality and physical qualities, all the ingredients are there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the first things that Troussier did upon taking charge of both Japan and Vietnam \u2013 some two decades apart \u2013 was to ensure he was in control not just of the senior side but also the age level below them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It allowed him to assess the quality of the younger national groups but also to instil that mentality and belief that\u2019s vital to the success he\u2019s had both in Asia and, in far earlier times, in Africa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even the nickname from those distant days, the slightly cringeworthy \u2018white witch doctor,\u2019 has made a return via the Vietnamese press and while he\u2019ll need to conjure up some kind of deadly spell to upset Japan in Qatar, the course he\u2019s hoping to plot for Vietnam is one that will see them close the gap over the coming years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Troussier was the right man at the right time for Japan, giving the players and the nation belief, helping to forge a tactical style, focused on a three-man backline, that wasn\u2019t commonplace domestically at the time but which quickly filtered into the J.League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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