by Genevieve Henry (5/7/23)
Above: Vietnam celebrate after qualifying for their first World Cup after winning the play-offs at the Asian Cup last year. Photo: Tuoi Tre News.
The Vietnamese Women’s National Team, also known as Những Nữ Chiến Binh Sao Vàng (Golden Star Women Warriors) are a vibrant team full of young talent and veteran experience. They made history by qualifying for the 2023 Women’s World Cup and will aim to make some more over the coming weeks.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Trần Thị Kim Thanh, Khổng Thị Hằng, Đào Thị Kiều Oanh.
Defenders: Chương Thị Kiều, Trần Thị Thu Thảo, Hoàng Thị Loan, Trần Thị Thu, Lương Thị Thu Thương, Nguyễn Thị Mỹ Anh, Lê Thị Diễm My, Trần Thị Hải Linh, Trần Thị Thúy Nga.
Midfielders: Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung, Dương Thị Vân, Nguyễn Thị Bích Thùy, Trần Thị Thùy Trang, Thái Thị Thảo, Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã, Ngân Thị Vạn Sự.
Forwards: Huỳnh Như, Phạm Hải Yến, Nguyễn Thị Thúy Hằng, Vũ Thị Hoa.
Head Coach
Under the management of Mai Đức Chung, this team has achieved unprecedented things. However, after leading the Golden Star Women Warriors to their first-ever women’s World Cup, Chung announced that he would not be part of the management come 2023, due to old age (he is 72). At the time of writing no replacement has been announced for the post.
Chung has been coaching for over 30 years, and he actually has had multiple stints with the Vietnamese Women’s National Team as well as the Vietnamese Men’s National Team and youth levels. He first coached the Golden Star Women Warriors for a few years starting in 1997. After about ten years pursuing other goals, he resumed the position of head coach in 2014, and has been the most successful coach in their history winning many minor tournaments in Asia, and bringing this team to higher levels ever since.
World Cup History
This is Vietnam’s first appearance in the final stages of the World Cup.
How they qualified
After qualifying for the quarter-finals at the Asian Women’s Cup, Vietnam went down to eventual winners, China. However, this put them into the play-off competition against two other losers in the last eight. Victories over both Thailand (2-0), and Chinese Taipei (2-1), sealed their qualification.
Strengths
Vietnam has many paths to goal. When facing weaker opponents, they have many prolific scorers to rely on.
Development Areas
Like many developing footballing nations, many of these players don’t have much experience playing quality opponents, so they have a tendency to not play the best they can due to the athleticism of other teams.
Key Players
Chương Thị Kiều is the most experienced defender on the team who has played a huge part in their recent success. The 27-year-old plays for Vietnamese powerhouse Hồ Chí Minh City where she strengthens her bond and chemistry with her many national teammates who ply their trade there as well.
Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Dung, who plays for Phong Phú Hà Nam is a midfielder and one of the most prominent Vietnamese sports stars of all time, being the first ever Vietnamese athlete on the BBC 100 Women List. She has made 76 appearances for her country, the highest amount currently in the squad, as well as having scored 54 goals in her time with the Golden Star Women Warriors.
Huỳnh Như is the side’s experienced captain. The only one on the team to play outside of Vietnam, the 31-year-old forward is at Portuguese club Länk FC Vilaverdense, where she has scored seven goals in her 14 appearances. Như carries that scoring prowess over to the national team, where she has scored 67 goals in 72 appearances. She has won five Vietnamese Golden Balls for being the best player in the country.
One to watch
Nguyễn Thị Thanh Nhã is a 21-year-old forward who has an impressive 25 international caps, as well as five goals to her name. The Hà Nội player will aim to show the world what she is made of this summer.
Success would be
Success would be having a few solid performances and holding it together throughout the group stage. Even if they could somehow get a draw, they would feel like winners in their very tough group.
Prediction
The Golden Star Women Warriors would surprise no one if they finished at the bottom of their group. Against The Netherlands, Portugal, and the USA, they’re unlikely to have results go their way.
Group E Fixtures
22nd July – USA, Eden Park, Auckland.
27th July – Portugal, Waikato Stadium, Hamilton.
1st August – Netherlands, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin.
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