Siam Sport, Thailand’s leading sports newspaper, has published its analysis of the AFF Cup 2024 Team of the Tournament. According to their report, the Vietnamese national team has dominated with 7 players honored, while Thailand managed only two spots.
Xuan Son and Duy Manh preparing to receive individual awards from fans (Photo: Manh Quan).
The Announced Team of the Tournament: Vietnam’s Domination
According to the Southeast Asian Football Federation (AFF), the Team of the Tournament for AFF Cup 2024 is arranged in a 4-4-2 formation. This lineup reflects the overwhelming support from fans, with Vietnam, the tournament champions, securing seven positions. Thailand and other teams like Singapore have also contributed players.
Specifically, the seven Vietnamese players in the lineup include:
- Goalkeeper: Nguyen Dinh Trieu
- Defenders: Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Bui Tien Dung
- Midfielders: Nguyen Hai Long, Nguyen Quang Hai
- Forwards: Nguyen Tien Linh, Nguyen Xuan Son
Siam Sport praises Vietnam’s performance, particularly highlighting their victory over Thailand with a combined score of 5-3 in the final matches.
Controversies Surrounding the Team of the Tournament
Despite Vietnam’s dominance, the selection process has sparked some debates. Notable controversial positions include:
1. Bui Hoang Viet Anh
Viet Anh played approximately 60 minutes in the group stage match against the Philippines. Nonetheless, he was selected as one of the top two center-backs of the tournament. This decision has raised questions about the fairness of the voting process.
2. Bui Tien Dung
Dung frequently played as a center-back throughout the tournament but was placed in the left wing-back position in the Team of the Tournament. This unexpected choice has surprised many, given his performance in the new role.
3. Nguyen Hai Long
Long performed impressively, but compared to his teammate Nguyen Hoang Duc, who consistently delivered more stable and effective performances as a central midfielder, Long’s selection remains contentious.
Hoang Duc’s Outstanding Performance Goes Unrecognized (Photo: Manh Quan).
International Faces in the Team of the Tournament
Apart from Vietnamese players, the lineup includes Pansa Hemviboon (Thailand) and Kyoga Nakamura (Singapore). However, both players did not leave a significant impact during the crucial stages of the tournament. Particularly, Pansa made a critical error in the second leg of the final, contributing to Thailand’s defeat.
Analysis by Siam Sport
The Thai newspaper acknowledges that Vietnam demonstrated greater efficiency in the final matches. They wrote: “This is the third time Vietnam has won the Southeast Asian championship. The 2024 tournament concluded on January 5th, and Vietnam deservedly earned this title.”
Conclusion
The AFF Cup 2024 Team of the Tournament reflects Vietnam’s dominance but also highlights controversies surrounding the selection process. Nonetheless, the impressive achievements of Vietnamese players cannot be denied. For regional football to progress, there is a need for more transparent and professional criteria in the future.
Readers interested in further details can refer to the original source: Thai Newspaper Comments on the Team of the Tournament.
