Vietnam team and unfinished experiments

The Vietnamese team is currently ranked second in Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. The two recent wins over Nepal may help coach Kim Sang-sik and his team maintain their ability to catch up with their opponents Malaysia, but in terms of expertise, there are still too many sighs.

There are no positive signs yet.

The way the Vietnamese team let Nepal score in the first leg and the deadlocked attack in the second leg are things that have left experts and fans unsatisfied. More worryingly, the Vietnamese team has not shown the class and stature of a team capable of competing for the top spot to participate in the Asian Finals.

In terms of expertise, Hoang Duc and his teammates are better than their opponents in ball control ability thanks to the uniformity of the individuals (the average ball control rate of both matches is 65%). However, Vietnam lacks flexible attacking plans to approach the opponent's goal. 4 goals after 2 matches, but up to 50% come from set pieces, the rest are quick opportunities of individuals. There have not been any systematic crosses down the wing, or passes, breakthroughs to exploit the space in the inner corridor and down the wing to return. The ability to attack in the middle is also very limited, typically no goals come from situations deployed according to this plan.

The Vietnamese team (left) still leaves behind concerns.

PHOTO: KHA HOA

Regarding personnel, coach Kim also made adjustments and experiments in some positions. Especially in the return match, but the results could not make us feel secure. The young central defender duo Hieu Minh - Nhat Minh was okay, but Duc Chien's position when replacing Hoang Duc could not satisfy the coaching staff. The key positions also could not show good performance. No. 1 striker Tien Linh scored 3 goals after 6 matches in the V-League but only shone in the opening goal in the first leg win over Nepal, and almost disappeared in the return match. Tuan Hai and Hai Long played the rest of the match and their professional marks were not as clear as what they had shown in the AFF Cup 2024.

TEACHER K IM'S DIFFICULTY

The Vietnamese national team is entering a transitional period, the "golden generation" that achieved a lot of success under coach Park Hang-seo has entered its twilight period. Factors such as Tien Dung, Duy Manh, Xuan Manh and even Tien Linh and Tuan Hai are all showing signs of decline. The next generation such as Hai Long, Thanh Long and Tien Anh are not yet mature enough to shoulder the responsibility. The young talents have made significant progress in the U.23 Vietnam jersey but still need more practice to gain enough experience and courage in big matches.

The difficulty in personnel has also affected the calculations and professional testing of coach Kim Sang-sik. For example, without Quang Hai or Hoang Duc, the Vietnamese team will not know how to control the ball and organize attacks. Without someone capable of leading and controlling the team, our team becomes spontaneous and lacks direction.

The biggest hope of the coaching staff as well as the fans at this time is the reinforcement of the force from the naturalized source. Hoang Hen (Hendrio) has officially played for Hanoi FC as a domestic player and is waiting for the day to join the national team. Other names such as Geovane, Gustavo or Janclesio are also gradually becoming Vietnamese players. However, coach Kim still has to expand resources to find new faces to supplement the team. Minh Vuong's brilliant performance in the Truong Tuoi Dong Nai shirt in the first division will also be a reasonable suggestion.

In November, Vietnam will play Laos again in the second leg of the Asian Cup qualifiers and a win like the first leg is almost certain. The most important match is the rematch with Malaysia at the end of March next year. There are still 5 months until the rematch with this fateful opponent, and without suitable strategies and detailed and meticulous preparation plans, the Vietnam team will continue to stagnate. If so, we will almost have no chance to overcome Malaysia to create a historic comeback. Of course, if the AFC loses to Malaysia because of the illegal immigration scandal, the situation in Group F will be very different. But before thinking about the AFC's final decision, Vietnamese football must save itself!

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-va-nhung-thu-nghiem-dang-do-185251020205809903.htm