(Spoiler ahead) Great movie until...

I agree that, considering it was released in 1978 and written in 1973, it is at least comparable to the "famous" Vietnam movies. The "realistic" Vietnam movies, I should say.
But the final third, that is the soccer game, gets out of control. Not only the terrible soccer movements, but more than 30 minutes to get to the real end is to me too much and out of sense. Even it the story would be "based on a tru story" there's no need to extend it that long. And that leads to somehow comical scenes, like when the viet colonel gets mad.
I do not like them at all but it gives some sense to director's cuts or re-dux versions...