'Vietnam team is stuck without Xuan Son'

Vietnam team is stuck without Xuan Son. Photo: Anh Tien .

“The absence of Xuan Son is one of the reasons why the Vietnamese team's attack is not really sharp in finishing,” former center-back Nguyen Tien Duy shared with Tri Thuc - Znews after the Vietnamese team's 1-0 victory over Nepal in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers on the evening of October 14.

At Thong Nhat Stadium, the Vietnamese team aimed to win 3 more points and perfect their play against Nepal. However, the "golden star warriors" only solved the problem of points. Despite completely controlling the game and creating many clear-cut opportunities, coach Kim Sang-sik's team only scored one goal. Notably, the goal that brought them 3 points came from a Nepalese player's penalty kick.

Compared to the first leg, the Vietnamese team was more proactive and organized, but the absence of a true “killer” made all attacks lack surprises. This is also something that experts have been mentioning for a long time, since Nguyen Xuan Son got injured at the beginning of the year.

In fact, when Xuan Son is in the squad, the team's scoring efficiency is much higher. In the ASEAN Cup 2024, the Brazilian striker scored 7 goals in 5 matches, accounting for half of the team's total goals. He is not only the top scorer but also the center connecting the attacks, helping the midfield reduce pressure in the deployment phase.

The rare bright spot in the return match came from the young players who were given opportunities. Three U23 players, Thanh Nhan, Hieu Minh and Trung Kien, were given the chance to start. Dinh Bac and Van Khang were brought on at the end of the second half and also played well.

Among them, Hieu Minh is one of two U22 players who played the full 90 minutes. The player from PVF-CAND showed a focused spirit and good ability to read situations.

Hieu Minh had an impressive debut in the Vietnam national team. Photo: Anh Tien.

Former Vietnam national team central defender under former coach Toshiya Miura commented: “Viet Anh and Thanh Binh are at the peak of their careers and can carry the team in the future. Therefore, Hieu Minh will have to make more efforts in the near future. Coach Kim Sang-sik letting young players play is a positive sign, helping them get used to pressure and tactical requirements at a higher level.”

The emergence of the next generation shows that coach Kim Sang-sik is making long-term calculations, aiming for the 2030 World Cup qualifiers. However, for the team to return to its former attacking power, the return of Nguyen Xuan Son or Quang Hai, who is also injured, is still considered the most important piece.

“The team needs cohesion and succession between the young and the veterans at the present time to go further in the qualifying round. Certainly, the return of Xuan Son or Quang Hai will bring much hope in the near future,” Tien Duy commented.

After this match, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team need to continue to improve their finishing to prepare for the next match on Laos's field. The return match between the two teams will take place on November 18.

Source: https://znews.vn/tuyen-viet-nam-be-tac-khi-thieu-xuan-son-post1593817.html