Shin Tae-yong Believes In Calls Indonesian Quality Equivalent To Vietnam

Indonesian National Team Coach Shin Tae-yong (left) accompanied by footballer Dendy Sulistyawan (right)/ANTARA

Ahead of the 2022 AFF Cup semifinal second leg match against Vietnam at My Dinh Hanoi Stadium, Monday, January 9, Indonesian national team coach Shin Tae-yong is confident in saying that the quality of his squad is now equal to his opponent. "When I handled the Indonesian national team, the squad's performance was better. Our performance was the same as Vietnam," Shin Tae-yong said at a press conference before the match at the VFF Office, Hanoi, Vietnam, as reported by Antara, Sunday, January 8. According to the South Korean tactician, one of the quality equality was seen when Indonesia held Vietnam to a goalless draw in the first leg of the 2022 AFF Cup semifinal at Bung Karno Main Gelora Stadium (SUGBK), Jakarta, last Friday. At the senior level, it was the second draw of Shin Tae-yong's three matches against the Vietnam national team since he started handling the Indonesian national team at the end of 2019. Another match ended in defeat to Indonesia. Shin Tae-yong's first meeting against Vietnam took place at the 2022 World Cup Qualification in the Asian zone, June 2021, where Indonesia lost 0-4. After that, Vietnam was no longer able to beat Indonesia. When the two teams met in the group stage of the 2020 AFF Cup and the first leg of the 2022 AFF Cup semifinals, Vietnam and Indonesia had to settle for a goalless draw. "The Indonesian national team is stable and better than before," Shin emphasized. Vietnam's 2022 AFF Cup semifinal second leg match against Indonesia will be held at the My Dinh National Stadium, Hanoi, Monday (9/1), starting at 19.30 WIB. With a 0-0 draw in the first leg of the semifinals, the Garuda national team only needed a draw with a goal which meant winning an away goal to seal a place in the 2022 AFF Cup final. Based on the 11v11.com page, Indonesia and Vietnam have competed 26 times since 1991. During that time, Indonesia won eight times, lost seven times and the rest of the match was completed with a draw. At least in the last six years, Indonesia has always had difficulties against Vietnam. Since December 7, 2016, Indonesia has drawn twice and lost twice when they met Vietnam. In addition, coach Shin Tae-yong has never won over Vietnam, the parent of his compatriot, Park Hang-seo.