Highlights by Nguyen Dinh Bac

Dinh Bac was involved in all four of Vietnam U22's goals in the group stage.

After convincingly defeating U22 Malaysia 2-0 in the final group stage match on December 11th, the U22 Vietnam team advanced to the semi-finals as the top team in Group B. U22 Vietnam will face U22 Philippines in the match to qualify for the final of the men's football tournament at the 33rd SEA Games.

Rotate the squad wisely.

Despite a less-than-impressive start, the Vietnam U22 team delivered an outstanding performance against Malaysia U22 in the third match of Group B. Coach Kim Sang-sik continued to showcase his effective squad rotation, catching the opponent off guard. Meanwhile, with their superior class, the South Korean coach's players dominated Malaysia U22 throughout the match and scored two goals using their signature wing attacks.

Vietnam U22 advanced to the semi-finals of the SEA Games 33 with a perfect record in the group stage. Photo: NGOC LINH

Having scored a brace to help Vietnam U22 defeat Laos U22 in their opening match of the men's football tournament at the 33rd SEA Games, striker Nguyen Dinh Bac continued to shine with two assists, leading his team to a full three points against Malaysia U22. Dinh Bac was involved in all four of Vietnam U22's goals in the group stage, earning high praise from experts for his professional skills at this year's SEA Games.

Becoming a key player in the tactical approach of the Vietnam U22 team, Dinh Bac helped coach Kim Sang-sik successfully solve the team's attacking "problem". His keen vision allowed him to deliver a perfect cross for Hieu Minh to head in the opening goal in the 10th minute. Just over 10 minutes later, the winger from Nghe An province skillfully dribbled the ball, disrupting the left flank and delivering a cross that set up Minh Phuc to easily tap the ball into the empty net, securing a 2-0 victory for Vietnam U22 against Malaysia U22.

Speaking about Dinh Bac, football expert Phan Anh Tu praised him: "He not only holds off defenders well but also possesses strong ball control, breaking through the opponent's defense to create opportunities for his teammates. In addition to his individual technique, Dinh Bac also has confidence and maturity when playing."

Air combat needs improvement.

The U22 Vietnam team is considered a strong contender for the gold medal at the 33rd SEA Games. Despite some injuries before the tournament, the core of Coach Kim Sang-sik's squad remains comprised of experienced players who have competed in the V-League, represented the national team, and recently won the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship.

During training camps on FIFA Days in 2024 and 2025, the Vietnam U22 team had the opportunity to compete against top Asian opponents. Through these experiences, Coach Kim's players improved both their tactical approach and physical fitness.

A new feature of the Vietnam U22 team is their effective zonal pressing ability and flexible transition from defense to attack. Compared to their opening match, the Vietnam U22 team's tactical approach is more diverse, knowing how to circulate the ball on both flanks, use long balls, and exploit weaknesses in the Malaysia U22 team's defense.

However, football expert Phan Anh Tú believes that the Vietnam U22 team is not yet strong in aerial duels. The players need to improve their long ball and header play to be able to compete against teams with a physical advantage like the Philippines U22 or Thailand U22…

Source: https://nld.com.vn/diem-nhan-nguyen-dinh-bac-196251211220853555.htm