The flag goes to Tien Linh

There is a paradox named Nguyen Tien Linh in the Vietnam national team. In the first 6 months when coach Kim Sang-sik took over, Tien Linh played regularly and scored consistently (3 goals in 4 matches). However, since the AFF Cup 2024 until now, this 28-year-old striker has only had 3 more starting matches for the Vietnam national team.

Cờ đến tay Tiến Linh- Ảnh 1. — Will Tien Linh light up the Vietnamese national team's attack?

Even when the main striker Xuan Son was injured, Mr. Kim did not prioritize Tien Linh for the starting position. The reigning Golden Ball of Vietnam still scored regularly in the V-League when he won the domestic top scorer title last season (13 goals), but coach Kim Sang-sik did not choose the player purely for his performance, but also for his harmony.

In the attacking system that requires energy and intense pressing of the Vietnamese team, the pure center forward who sticks to the penalty area to run and shoot like Tien Linh seems not to be prioritized. Tien Linh has tried to change, when dropping down to coordinate the ball deployment, actively passing, running to attract people... to meet the tactics. However, changing the playing habits that have brought success over the past 6 years is not a simple matter. Tien Linh struggled to adapt, but on the other hand, the strikers who replaced him have not actually proven much.

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Under coach Kim Sang-sik, except for Xuan Son (7 goals) and Tien Linh (4 goals), Mr. Kim did not have any other players score more than 3 goals. In the loss to Malaysia in June, the Vietnamese team played with a strikerless formation and quickly became deadlocked. Only when a real striker like Tien Linh entered the field did the opportunity come. After unsuccessful attempts, coach Kim Sang-sik may return to the 28-year-old striker. In the HCM City Police Club shirt, Tien Linh is still "firing" regularly with 3 goals (surpassing all domestic strikers), all coming from sharp opportunities that the Vietnamese team needs.

Who supports Tien Linh?

Tien Linh will likely start in the match against Nepal on October 9. The question is: who will support him? Coach Kim Sang-sik has veteran striker Tuan Hai ( Hanoi FC), along with 3 young, versatile strikers including Thanh Nhan (PVF-CAND), Dinh Bac (Hanoi Police FC) and Gia Hung (Ninh Binh). The common point of these 4 faces is that they can play in many positions. Tuan Hai is used to playing as an attacking midfielder, winger or behind a foreign player at Hanoi FC, similar to Gia Hung's role at Ninh Binh. Thanh Nhan can play on both wings, while Dinh Bac can play on the wing or as a center forward.

Cờ đến tay Tiến Linh- Ảnh 2. — Tien Linh at practice on October 8

To increase the attack, Mr. Kim can apply the 3-4-3 formation, with 2 attacking midfielders playing high behind striker Tien Linh. One of them is almost certainly Hai Long, a player who is playing better and better. The remaining position is a competition between Tuan Hai and the U.23 players, but the young players will hardly be able to start in the first match. The Vietnamese team still needs experience and safety, qualities that Tuan Hai and Hai Long have in abundance. However, with the breakthrough power of Dinh Bac or Thanh Nhan, the Vietnamese team always has a reserve fire to share with the main explosive Tien Linh.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/co-den-tay-tien-linh-185251008225620621.htm