An important position of the Vietnamese team is 'threatened' to lose its place: Coach Kim revealed…

In the near future, coach Kim Sang-sik will likely call up Vo Anh Quan to the Vietnamese team to share the burden as well as create competitive motivation with Truong Tien Anh.

Vietnam team lacks balance on both wings

In the two matches against Nepal in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, coach Kim Sang-sik used three left-backs, including Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, Nguyen Van Vi and Khuat Van Khang. The players were rotated to play, or even appeared on the field together whenever the Vietnamese team needed to put more pressure. This created diversity on the left wing of the "Golden Star Warriors". Not to mention Nguyen Phi Hoang, who played very well in the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 tournament, has had a stable development process at Da Nang Club for many seasons, and is always ready to be given the opportunity.

Tien Anh is the only choice of coach Kim Sang-sik at this time.

PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG

Meanwhile, on the opposite wing, coach Kim Sang-sik has only one choice left: Truong Tien Anh. While Ho Tan Tai and Vu Van Thanh are both racing against time to return to the field, and Pham Xuan Manh is "planned" for the central defender position, the player of The Cong Viettel Club has become the number one right-back in the Vietnam national team. He played the full 360 minutes in the last 4 matches of the Vietnam national team (3 matches in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, 1 friendly match).

Tien Anh still plays consistently, showing his strengths such as speed, dribbling ability and good crossing. However, coach Kim Sang-sik still needs other personnel options to avoid risks as well as create diversity in the playing style of the Vietnamese team.

Flag to Anh Quan?

After the return match with Nepal, Thanh Nien Newspaper asked coach Kim Sang-sik if he had any further plans given that the Vietnamese team's right-back position is quite thin. He replied: "I have a plan to use players from the U.23 Vietnam team. At the same time, my colleagues and I will monitor the V-League more closely to find new players."

Anh Quan plays football more and more confidently.

PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG

Coach Kim Sang-sik's statement clearly shows that Anh Quan has a chance to be called up to the Vietnam national team for the first time. Since the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 Championship in Indonesia, he has established himself as the number one right-back of the Vietnam U.23 team thanks to his ability to play smartly, confidently, and with a balance in both attack and defense. When in the opponent's third of the field, he creates trouble with crosses and crosses with many intentions and is ready to penetrate the penalty area to finish.

In the 2025-2026 V-League, Anh Quan also showed stable performance. He played 6 matches, scored 1 goal and 2 assists. Those are impressive numbers. In the 2-2 draw with Thanh Hoa Club, Anh Quan contributed to both goals of PVF-CAND team. In the 60th minute, he had a perfect cross for Xuan Bac to score. 6 minutes later, the player born in 2004 made a clever turn and then decisively finished into the near corner with his weaker foot to help PVF-CAND Club take the lead. These moves not only show how good Anh Quan is but also reveal that he is still very confident.

In 1 month, the Vietnamese team will travel to Laos to compete in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. If they continue to maintain this form, the chance for Anh Quan to "eat national team food" for the first time is very high. At that time, Tien Anh will also have to try his best, if he does not want to lose his starting position to his junior.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mot-vi-tri-trong-yeu-cua-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-bi-de-doa-mat-cho-thay-kim-he-lo-185251020174210847.htm