Greatness is just a repeated habit – and Vietnamese football is repeating the habit of failure

On the night of March 26, 2026, My Dinh Stadium fell into silence. 40,000 Vietnamese fans seemed frozen as the referee blew the final whistle. A 0-0 draw against Indonesia, a result enough to send us home in bitter disappointment. But I wasn't surprised. I've followed Vietnamese football for over 12 years, from my days as a student blogger, and I've seen this script repeat too many times. The night Germany collapsed in 2026, I began to dare to ask: is greatness real or just a habit? And tonight, I have my own answer. Context: We're talking about the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Vietnam was in the same group as Iraq, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Before the final round, we had 6 points, one less than Indonesia. A win would take us through; a draw might be enough if Iraq beat the Philippines. But we chose the safest option: hold the ball, pass sideways, and create no difference at all. Coach Philippe Troussier, expected to bring a fresh breeze with his possession-based philosophy, failed to turn ideas into results. Look at the numbers. According to Sofascore stats, in the match at My Dinh, Vietnam had 65% possession, completed 587 passes with 89% accuracy. But we only had 2 shots on target, both from set pieces. Indonesia, with just 35% possession, had 3 shots on target and one disallowed goal for offside. This is not an accident. It's a recurring pattern. In the first leg in Jakarta, we also had 58% possession but lost 0-1 to a counter-attack. In total, across two matches against Indonesia, Vietnam averaged 61.5% possession but scored zero goals from open play. The truth is: possession is not the goal, it's a means. And when that means doesn't create chances, it becomes a burden. Troussier arrived with a clear philosophy: build from the back, control the game's tempo, and apply constant pressure. But he overlooked a crucial factor: the characteristics of Vietnamese players. We don't have central midfielders who can turn in tight spaces like the Japanese or Koreans. We have quick, skillful players, but they lack physical strength and the ability to win duels. When opponents sit deep, we don't know what to do with the ball. We pass sideways, pass back, and hope for a miracle from set pieces. That's never enough. I recall the match against Iraq at home in November 2026. We lost 0-1, but we played much better than against Indonesia. Why? Because Iraq pushed high, creating space behind their defense. We could exploit the pace of Nguyen Van Toan and Pham Tuan Hai. But Indonesia, with the tactical intelligence of coach Shin Tae-yong, didn't fall for that trap. They deliberately gave up possession, dropped deep, and waited for mistakes. And we made mistakes. Not in defense, but in organizing attacks. We lack a true number 9, someone who can finish half-chances. Nguyen Tien Linh, despite his efforts, is not a continental-class center-forward. He needs service inside the box, but we have no one capable of making decisive passes. What frustrates me more is the lack of tactical flexibility. Troussier had almost no Plan B. When the possession plan didn't work, he didn't change the system, didn't push the line higher, didn't take risks. In the Indonesia match, we needed a goal, but it wasn't until the 70th minute that he brought on Nguyen Quang Hai. Quang Hai, the only player capable of creating a moment of genius, was left on the bench too long. And when he came on, he didn't have enough time to make a difference. This isn't the first time. At the 2026 Asian Cup, in the match against Indonesia, we lost 0-1, and Quang Hai only came on in the 60th minute. Why is a player of his caliber not used properly? That's a question Troussier never answered. But I'm not just criticizing Troussier. I'm criticizing the whole system. Vietnamese football has invested heavily in youth, from PVF Academy, HAGL JMG, to other training centers. We've had successes at youth level, like U23 winning SEA Games, U23 reaching the Asian U23 final. But when these players move to the national team, they can't fully realize their potential. Why? Because they lack a competitive environment at club level. V.League, despite improvements, still has limitations in tactics and quality. Young players don't play regularly, don't learn to handle pressure at a high level. When they reach the national team, they face opponents used to continental pace, and they struggle. Look at Indonesia. They don't have as many players in Europe as we think. But they have a clear plan, an effective defensive counter-attacking style, and patience. They don't try to control possession; they try to control space. And they succeeded. In two matches against Vietnam, they scored only one goal, but it was the decisive one. They don't need many chances; they just need one clear one. And they took it. I could be wrong. Maybe I'm being too harsh on Troussier. Maybe he needs more time to build the team his way. But football is a results-based sport. And our result in the recent campaign is failure. We can't keep justifying losses with excuses like 'we're in a rebuilding process' or 'the opponents are too strong.' Indonesia isn't stronger than us in terms of squad, but they played smarter, more disciplined. And that's the scariest part. So what should we do? I'm not a coach, but I can offer some suggestions. First, we need a coach who understands Southeast Asian football, not just modern football philosophy. Second, we need a flexible playing system that can switch between possession and quick counter-attacks. Third, we need to utilize players who can make a difference, like Quang Hai, even if they don't fit the coach's philosophy. And finally, we need a mindset change: possession isn't always good; sometimes you have to give up the ball to create space. I won't say all is lost. Vietnamese football still has promising young talents, like Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Thai Son, or players abroad like Nguyen Van Toan. But if we don't change our approach, we'll keep repeating failures. And I don't want to witness another generation of talent being wasted. The My Dinh night is over, but the question remains. Do we have the courage to face the truth? Do we have the bravery to change, not just at the national team level, but across the entire football system? I'm not sure. But I know that if we don't change, we'll forever be bystanders, and trophies will remain a distant dream. Greatness is just a repeated habit. And our current habit is failure. It's time to break it.