Vietnam national football team has had a series of interesting encounters with the Indian national football team over the years, leading up to their October 2024 friendly match. While these two teams are from different regions of the football world, their clashes have always been competitive and significant in the context of their respective preparations.
Vietnam 2-1 India (2004)
The first notable meeting between the two teams came in 2004, during a friendly tournament held in Vietnam. Due to their placement in different football federations (Vietnam in the AFC’s ASEAN region and India in South Asia), they don’t frequently face each other. However, this match offered both sides an opportunity to test their abilities.
Vietnam, playing on home soil, managed to secure a 2-1 victory. The goals for Vietnam came from two iconic players, Le Cong Vinh and Thach Bao Khanh, both of whom were well-known for their contributions to Vietnamese football during that period. India’s lone goal was scored by Climax Lawrence, who was one of their standout players. The win was a strong indicator of Vietnam’s growing strength on the international stage. Despite the victory, Vietnam went on to finish as runners-up in the tournament after a loss to the South Korean University Team in the final.
This match was significant for both nations, as it showcased the talents of players like Cong Vinh, who would go on to become one of Vietnam’s most celebrated footballers. The game also demonstrated India’s potential, even though they were on the losing side.
India 3-1 Vietnam (2010)
Six years later, in 2010, Vietnam traveled to India for a friendly match as part of their preparation for the AFF Cup. The situation was different this time, as Vietnam was the away team and was not at full strength. Coach Henrique Calisto, who had guided Vietnam to the AFF Cup title in 2008, was looking to build his squad for the upcoming tournament.
However, India proved to be formidable opponents. Star forward Sunil Chettri, who is one of the most decorated footballers in Indian history, had a standout performance, scoring a hat-trick. His clinical finishing and ability to break through Vietnam’s defense made all the difference in the match. Despite Vietnam’s efforts, with a goal from Nhu Thanh, they were unable to overcome the Indian team and ended up losing 3-1.
This match demonstrated the growing quality of Indian football, particularly with players like Chettri who would go on to become one of Asia’s top scorers. For Vietnam, the loss highlighted the need for further preparation ahead of the AFF Cup.
Vietnam 3-0 India (2022)
The two teams met again in 2022, this time in Vietnam, as part of a friendly tournament. Vietnam, under the management of Park Hang-seo, was preparing for the AFF Cup 2022 and used the match to experiment with different line-ups and tactics. The game was played in front of a home crowd, which gave Vietnam an extra boost.
Vietnam dominated the match from the outset and opened the scoring early through Phan Van Duc. The home team continued to control the game, and Van Toan and Van Quyet added two more goals, sealing a comprehensive 3-0 victory. This win was an important confidence boost for Vietnam as they geared up for the regional tournament. For India, it was a challenging match, as they struggled to deal with Vietnam’s pace and attacking prowess.
Anticipation for the 2024 Friendly
As the two teams prepare to meet again in October 2024, both sides will be looking to test their squads ahead of upcoming competitions. Vietnam, now ranked 116th in the world, will be aiming to fine-tune their tactics under coach Kim Sang-sik. On the other hand, India, led by coach Manolo Márquez, will be eager to break their 10-game winless streak and prove their worth against a higher-ranked opponent.
With both teams having undergone significant changes since their last meeting, the 2024 friendly promises to be an exciting and competitive fixture, adding another chapter to the growing rivalry between these two Asian football nations.
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