Goalkeeper Lam’s agent calls new keeper Filip ‘weakest link’ in Japan defeat

Filip made his debut for the Vietnam national team against Japan in the 2023 AFC Asian Cup Group D clash on Sunday. Despite making some excellent saves throughout the game, he conceded four goals to an opponent of a superior level.

After the match, Grushin shocked football fans by publicly criticizing Filip’s performance.

The Russian agent, a former goalkeeper himself, said Filip underperformed in the game, and had he played better, Vietnam could have gotten a draw against Japan. “As an expert, I think Nguyen Filip is the team’s weakest link, the worst player of the match.”

Grushin also believes Filip does not deserve the praise that he is getting from the media. He mentioned his client Lam’s Man of the Match performance against Japan at the 2022 FIFA World Cup third qualifier that earned Vietnam an away 1-1 draw as a comparison.

Goalkeeper Dang Van Lam (R) and his agent Andrey Grushin. Photo by Andrey Grushin Facebook

Lam had initially been called up to the national team in preparation for the 2023 Asian Cup, but was forced to withdraw after it was decided that he was not fit to travel to Qatar. This enables Filip to take the number one spot right on his first cap. The Vietnamese Czech keeper gained Vietnamese citizenship last month, just in time to play for the natinoal team.

Coach Troussier praised Filip after the Sunday game.

“This is Nguyen Filip’s debut for the Vietnam national team, and I think he felt a little bit of the pressure. However, now that the match has ended, I can say that he had a good performance.

“He made 3 or 4 important saves and did well to support his teammates.”

Nguyen Filip makes a save in Vietnam’s 2-4 defeat against Japan at an Asian Cup group stage game in Qatar, Jan. 14, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa

Filip is not happy with his performance. He blamed himself for Japan’s third goal at the end of the first half.

In the third minute of injury time in the first half, when the score was 2-2, Filip made a long goal kick to the other side but his teammate lost the ball and let Japan start an attack. Kaito Nakamura got the ball at the edge of the box and his shot curled into the top corner.

“I should have kept the ball longer so my teammates had more time to rest. Instead, I was too rushing to take the goalkick,” Filip regretted. “Without this, the first half could have ended in a draw, and we never know what could have happened.”