Siam Sport, Thailand’s leading sports newspaper, recently published an article evaluating the AFF Cup 2024 Best XI. Accordingly, the Vietnamese national team dominated with 7 players honored, while Thailand only had two representatives.
Best XI Announced: Vietnam’s Dominance
According to the announcement from the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF), the AFF Cup 2024 Best XI is arranged in a 4-4-2 tactical formation. This is the result of fan voting, where the Vietnamese national team – the champions of the tournament – held a clear advantage with 7 positions. Two Thai players and a few other faces from teams like Singapore were also included.
Specifically, the 7 Vietnamese players appearing in the squad include:
- Goalkeeper: Nguyễn Đình Triệu
- Defenders: Bùi Hoàng Việt Anh, Bùi Tiến Dũng
- Midfielders: Nguyễn Hai Long, Nguyễn Quang Hải
- Forwards: Nguyễn Tiến Linh, Nguyễn Xuân Son
Siam Sport highly praised the achievements of the Vietnamese national team, especially emphasizing their victory in the tournament after defeating Thailand with an aggregate score of 5-3 over two final legs.
Controversies Surrounding the Best XI
Despite the Vietnamese national team’s dominance in the Best XI, the selection process was not without controversy. Some notable contested positions include:
1. Bùi Hoàng Việt Anh
Việt Anh only played approximately 60 minutes in the match against the Philippines during the group stage. However, he was still voted as one of the two best center-backs of the tournament. This led many to question the objectivity of the voting process.
2. Bùi Tiến Dũng
Tiến Dũng consistently played as a center-back throughout the tournament but was listed as a left-back in the Best XI. This came as a surprise because his performance was not particularly outstanding in this new position.
3. Nguyễn Hai Long
Hai Long performed quite impressively, but when compared to his teammate Nguyễn Hoàng Đức – who played more consistently and effectively in a central midfield role – Hai Long’s selection still sparked various opinions.
International Players in the Best XI
In addition to Vietnamese players, the Best XI also featured Pansa Hemviboon (Thailand) and Kyoga Nakamura (Singapore). However, neither left a clear mark during the crucial stages of the tournament. Notably, Pansa made a serious error in the second leg of the final, contributing to Thailand’s defeat.
Siam Sport‘s Commentary
The Thai newspaper acknowledged that the Vietnamese national team proved more effective in the two final legs. They wrote: “This is the third time Vietnamese football has won the Southeast Asian championship. The 2024 tournament concluded on January 5th, and Vietnam deserved this title.”
Conclusion
The AFF Cup 2024 Best XI reflects the dominance of the Vietnamese national team but also encountered controversies related to the fairness of the voting process. Nevertheless, the impressive achievements of the Vietnamese players are undeniable. To continue developing, regional football needs to aim for more transparent and professional criteria in the future.
Readers interested in more detailed information can find the original article here: Báo Thái Lan bình luận về đội hình tiêu biểu AFF Cup.
