7 strikers have not scored any goals in V.League, how will Vietnam attack?

Coach Philippe Troussier has called up 7 strikers for 2 matches in the 2nd qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia. Nguyen Van Tung, Nguyen Van Quyet, Pham Tuan Hai, Nguyen Van Toan, Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Tien Linh and Bui Vi Hao have been entrusted with his trust.

However, the statistics of all 7 players make fans worried.

Stagnant form

Up to this point, the total number of goals scored by Vietnam national team strikers in V.League 2023/2024 is 0.

In all club competitions, among the 7 names mentioned above, Pham Tuan Hai is the only one to score a goal with a goal in the AFC Champions League.

However, Tuan Hai and Van Quyet are the ones who are caught up in Hanoi FC's unstable season. The capital team constantly changes coaches and will find it difficult to get on the right track in the near future. This of course has a significant impact on the performance and spirit of this group of players.

Meanwhile, at Binh Duong Club, Nguyen Tien Linh's role has gradually decreased. He is still used but only started once in 2 matches of the team from Thu Dau Mot. In the physical play of the domestic league and the defensive-counterattacking philosophy of coach Le Huynh Duc, Tien Linh has encountered difficulties, especially when he has not reached the best physical condition.

Nguyen Van Tung, Bui Vi Hao, Nguyen Dinh Bac have many opportunities to play for young players. However, clubs and the Vietnamese national team cannot expect inexperienced players to score goals continuously.

Of course, there are debates about the list and more specifically the strikers that Mr. Troussier called up to the Vietnam national team. But Vietnamese football only has so many best names. Cong Phuong hardly plays abroad. Vu Quang Nam and Le Thanh Binh have scored goals in the V.League but the ability of these players has not been proven for a long enough time.

Poor form for attacking stars is a concern. But the bigger worry is that Mr Troussier has no better options.

Coach Troussier finds solutions

Coach Troussier did not have to deal with the problem of the strikers until now. The French coach has calculated the alternative options early, despite calling up many strikers in previous training sessions. That is the reason why at many times, we see Nguyen Hoang Duc playing as the highest striker instead of playing as a central midfielder.

Coach Troussier must solve the problem of the attack line. (Photo: VFF)

The player born in 1998 has good ball control, and his physique and technique are both good enough to face high-class defenders. However, Hoang Duc himself cannot always meet the requirements when he has to play outside his strong suit. He often only plays 1 half as a striker and then has to retreat deep to find the ball and organize the play for the Vietnamese team when the players in the midfield cannot respond best.

Perhaps that is why Van Quyet was called back. The captain of Hanoi FC is still one of the most classy domestic strikers in the V.League. If asked to keep the ball, control the rhythm and coordinate with teammates, Van Quyet can do this task well, although age significantly affects his physical strength.

Opportunities may also come to Vo Nguyen Hoang. The striker born in 2002 and 7 U23 teammates were called up to practice with the Vietnam national team this time. The level and experience of Thanh Hoa Club players are still lower than their seniors, but the type of striker who can make a wall and fight well in the air like Nguyen Hoang is very lacking in the national team. If he meets the requirements and has outstanding performances in training sessions, he may be given the opportunity.

The Vietnamese team under coach Troussier was oriented towards proactive attacking play. However, one of the reasons why this style of play was not the most effective in the first friendly matches was because the attacking personnel were not up to the task.

The Vietnamese team cannot keep waiting for goals from the players in the back line. If the strikers do not complete their assigned tasks, it will be difficult for Mr. Troussier and his team to go far.

Mai Phuong

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