Refreshing the Vietnamese team's midfield

Coach Kim Sang-sik has boldly rejuvenated the Vietnamese team before the two matches with Nepal with 8 U23 players.

In the list of 24 players called up this time, the Korean coach called 9 midfielders. Among them, Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Xuan Bac and Nguyen Phi Hoang were promoted from the Vietnam U23 team.

Opportunities for young players

Veteran midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai missed this training session due to injury. Previously, he was absent from 3 matches of Hanoi Police Club in AFC Champions League Two and Southeast Asian Cup C1, in addition to being unable to participate in the training session with the national team in September 2025.

Quang Hai and Hoang Duc are the two leading "conductors" of Vietnamese football today, always being the first choice for the midfield position of the national team for many years. Quang Hai withdrew his name before the national team's training camp, but coach Kim Sang-sik still decided not to call up any new players.

Vietnam team needs to solve the midfield "problem" before the match against Nepal. Photo: QUOC AN

With a strong squad of midfielders, Mr. Kim is confident that he will find a replacement for Quang Hai in the two matches against Nepal in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup.

In the group of young talents selected for the national team this time, Xuan Bac, Van Khang, Thanh Nhan, and Dinh Bac can all play well in the attacking midfielder position.

Although their forte is attacking the wings, these players still complete their tasks well when the national U23 coach and their home club arrange for them to play centrally.

Notably, Van Khang, Thanh Nhan, Xuan Bac and Dinh Bac not only have diverse and dangerous finishing skills but are also strong in ball competition and sharp construction.

The Vietnamese team gathered in Ho Chi Minh City on October 4 and had 5 days of training before entering the first leg match against Nepal at 7:30 p.m. on October 9.

Quang Hai's absence due to injury also unintentionally opens up opportunities for his juniors to demonstrate their talents and perform in the upcoming top continental tournament.

Refresh the midfield

In this list of players, experts predict that the defense and attack of the Vietnamese team will not have many changes compared to the away match in Malaysia in June. Coach Kim Sang-sik continues to trust in using veteran, high-class players with many years of experience playing for the national team.

However, the midfield will be the place where the Korean coach will test new elements. Playing against Nepal - an opponent with much weaker professional level - is an opportunity for the Vietnamese coaching staff to find a way to perfect the midfield.

In the center position, Nguyen Hoang Duc is the bridge between the lines thanks to his good personal technique, reasonable tempo control and sharp vision of the game. However, finding a player who is compatible with Hoang Duc in the middle is not easy.

In Ninh Binh FC, Duc Chien and Hoang Duc always supported and covered each other well, becoming the most effective midfield duo after 6 rounds of V-League. Similarly, Khuat Van Khang was also a close teammate, compatible with and knowledgeable about Hoang Duc's playing style when both played for The Cong Viettel Club.

However, Van Khang and Hoang Duc both have an attacking tendency, so it is easy for them to step on each other if they are both assigned to play as central midfielders.

Hoang Duc can only maximize his ability if he is relieved of the pressure and retreats to defend. This midfielder born in 1998 is good at escaping pressing and moving flexibly but is not strong when competing for the ball or supporting defense from a distance.

Therefore, arranging a midfielder with good physical strength, capable of sweeping and recovering the ball effectively like Le Pham Thanh Long, Duc Chien... to play alongside Hoang Duc will increase the effectiveness in the tactical operation of the Vietnamese team.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/lam-moi-tuyen-giua-tuyen-viet-nam-196251005210407297.htm