Over the next month, coach Kim Sang-sik will face the most hectic schedule since taking office. While domestic clubs enter the fierce phase of the V.League, the Vietnamese national team and U23 Vietnam are simultaneously preparing for international missions - a big challenge that requires the Korean coach to both think long-term and respond flexibly.
The headache called the match schedule
From now until mid-November, V.League will continuously take place from rounds 7 to 11 - a pivotal period for both the championship race and relegation. The fact that players have to compete so closely increases the risk of injury and overload, while just a few weeks later, the Vietnam team will have to play away to Laos (November 19) in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
That forced coach Kim Sang-sik to prepare for risks early, which was clearly shown in the October training session, when he boldly gave many U23 players a chance to play for the national team. That move initially met with doubts, but time proved Kim Sang-sik right: the group of young players showed good integration, contributing to helping the Vietnamese team maintain a stable playing pace without completely depending on the pillars who are facing signs of overload and loss of motivation.
Laos are no longer an easy “underdog”. They beat Nepal 2-1 in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers and showed a disciplined playing spirit, although they still showed major limitations in terms of physical strength, defensive ability and balance in playing style. Laos’ strength lies in their fighting spirit and home field advantage - factors that can make any team pay the price if they start the game complacently.
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Coach Kim Sang-sik faces double personnel challenges in the Vietnam team. |
Meanwhile, coach Kim Sang-sik is under pressure to create a clearer playing style for the Vietnamese team, especially when he is building a squad that is a mix of experience and youth. Without a strong and even squad, maintaining stability for both the national team and the U23 team is almost impossible.
Kill two birds with one stone
Last October, Mr. Kim cleverly “divided” the resources. The best U23 players were able to compete with the Vietnamese team, while the rest, under the guidance of assistant Dinh Hong Vinh, toured the UAE and played friendly matches with U23 Qatar - matches of high professional value. This approach helped Mr. Kim achieve two goals at the same time: Building the depth of the national team; Creating a foundation of international competition skills for U23 Vietnam.
That preparation will come into play in November, when the U23 Vietnam team will participate in an international friendly tournament in China (from November 10 to 18) against top Asian opponents such as South Korea and Uzbekistan. At the same time, the Vietnamese team will enter a crucial match with Laos.
Without early calculation, Coach Kim would find it difficult to maintain training intensity, consistent playing style and form for both teams at the same time.
Since arriving in Vietnam, Coach Kim Sang-sik has shown a meticulous, rigorous and scientific style. He not only cares about each immediate match but also aims for the long-term goal - building a flexible personnel system between the U23 and the national team. That connection both ensures succession and helps Vietnamese football reduce its dependence on the old "golden generation".
November will be the real test of the Korean coach's strategy. Amid the pressure of performance and the overlapping personnel problem, the way Kim Sang-sik coordinates his forces will show the mettle of a modern coach - one who knows that success does not come from haste, but from vision and careful preparation for the future.
Source: https://znews.vn/mot-thang-cang-thang-cho-tuyen-viet-nam-post1594426.html
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