There's a paradox surrounding Nguyen Tien Linh in the Vietnamese national team. In the first six months after coach Kim Sang-sik took over, Tien Linh played regularly and scored consistently (3 goals in 4 matches). However, since the 2024 AFF Cup, the 28-year-old striker has only started three more matches for the Vietnamese national team.
Will Tien Linh be the spark in the Vietnamese national team's attack?
Photo: DONG NGUYEN KHANG
Even with key striker Xuan Son injured, Coach Kim did not prioritize Tien Linh for a starting spot. The reigning Vietnamese Golden Ball winner still scores regularly in the V-League, having won the top domestic scorer title last season (13 goals), however, Coach Kim Sang-sik does not choose players purely based on form, but also on compatibility.
In the Vietnamese national team's attacking system, which demands energy and intense pressing, a pure center forward like Tien Linh, who usually stays in the penalty area to make runs and shoot, doesn't seem to be the preferred choice. Tien Linh has tried to adapt, dropping back to link up play, actively participating in one-two passes, and making runs to draw defenders away... to meet the tactical requirements. However, changing the playing habits that have brought him success for the past six years is no easy feat. Tien Linh has struggled to adapt, but conversely, the strikers who have replaced him haven't really proven themselves much either.
The Nepal coach doesn't want to compare the Vietnam and Malaysia teams; his goal is to get points at Go Dau Stadium.
Under coach Kim Sang-sik, apart from Xuan Son (7 goals) and Tien Linh (4 goals), no other player has scored more than 3 goals. In the loss to Malaysia in June, the Vietnamese team played without a striker and quickly became stagnant. Only when a true striker like Tien Linh came on did opportunities arise. After several unsuccessful attempts, coach Kim Sang-sik may return to the 28-year-old striker. Wearing the colors of Ho Chi Minh City Police FC, Tien Linh is still scoring regularly with 3 goals (surpassing all other domestic strikers), all coming from quick opportunistic finishes that the Vietnamese national team needs.
Who supports Tien Linh?
Tien Linh is highly likely to start in the match against Nepal on October 9th. The question is: who will support him? Coach Kim Sang-sik has veteran striker Tuan Hai ( Hanoi FC), along with three versatile young forwards: Thanh Nhan (PVF-CAND), Dinh Bac (Hanoi Police FC), and Gia Hung (Ninh Binh). The common thread among these four is their ability to play in multiple positions. Tuan Hai is accustomed to playing as an attacking midfielder, winger, or behind foreign players at Hanoi FC, similar to Gia Hung's role at Ninh Binh. Thanh Nhan can play on both wings, while Dinh Bac can play as a winger or center forward.
Tien Linh at the training session on October 8th.
To increase attacking power, Coach Kim could adopt a 3-4-3 formation, with two attacking midfielders playing higher up behind striker Tien Linh. One of them is almost certainly Hai Long, a player whose performance has been steadily improving. The remaining spot will be a competition between Tuan Hai and the U23 players, but the younger players are unlikely to start in the first match. The Vietnamese national team still needs experience and reliability, qualities that Tuan Hai and Hai Long possess in abundance. However, with the breakthrough ability of Dinh Bac or Thanh Nhan, the Vietnamese team always has backup options to share the burden with the main striker Tien Linh.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/co-den-tay-tien-linh-185251008225620621.htm
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