Dinh Bac made a huge impression with the Vietnam U23 team: Coach Kim was both happy and worried, why?

Dinh Bac is having a great time in his first SEA Games, having been involved in all four goals scored by the Vietnam U23 team.

Dinh Bac is the all-around key player for the Vietnam U.23 team.

Vietnam U23 easily overcame the challenge in Group B of the SEA Games 33, winning both matches against Laos U23 (2-1) and Malaysia U23 (2-0).

The common thread among all four goals scored by coach Kim Sang-sik's team is that they all bore the mark of striker Dinh Bac.

The striker born in 2004 scored a brace in the opening match against Laos U23, with a close-range tap-in and a powerful left-footed shot.

Dinh Bac plays a very important role in the playing style of the Vietnam U.23 team.

PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG

In the match against U23 Malaysia, Dinh Bac once again provided two assists. He delivered a perfectly placed cross for Hieu Minh to head in the goal, then dribbled solo down the left wing before crossing the ball for Minh Phuc to finish with a powerful shot into the net against Malaysia.

After two years, since first rising to prominence as a starter for the Vietnamese national team in January 2024, Dinh Bac has reached his peak.

Although the 21-year-old player is still lacking for the national team, he is in excess for the Vietnam U23 team. Dinh Bac scored two goals and won the Best Player award at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship.

At the U.23 Asian Championship finals and then the 33rd SEA Games, the player from Hanoi Police Club (CAHN Club) is becoming a reliable leader in the attack.

Even at their peak, with runner-up finishes at the 2018 U.23 Asian Championship and victory at the 2019 SEA Games, the Vietnam U.23 team didn't have a player who had the same significant impact on their playing style as Dinh Bac does now.

Besides scoring and assisting (meaning ensuring "output" for the attack), Dinh Bac also dribbles to create breakthroughs, holds the ball to develop the game, and makes runs to draw defenders away. Furthermore, the striker from Nghe An even drops back to support the defense, preventing opponents from launching attacks.

With the relatively free role given to him by coach Kim Sang-sik, Dinh Bac is establishing his influence across a wide area. This freedom and flexibility are the valves that unlock the potential of a highly creative player who can do everything with the ball like Dinh Bac.

However, as is often the case in football, when Dinh Bac plays such a dominant role, the players around him are easily overshadowed.

Vietnam U23 needs a backup plan.

PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG

In both matches against U23 Malaysia and U23 Laos, the player born in 2004 was the target of most passes whenever his teammates needed ideas for attacking plays. Dinh Bac is good, but if the focus of the attack is on his shoulders, U23 Vietnam will be easily predictable.

As long as the 21-year-old striker remains effective, the Vietnam U23 team will benefit. However, if Dinh Bac is neutralized, which is very likely to happen in the semi-finals given the Philippines U23's extremely disciplined defense, coach Kim Sang-sik will need a backup plan.

Whose expectations are these?

In fact, there have been matches where the Vietnam U23 team couldn't rely on Dinh Bac's brilliance. At those times, Coach Kim's "hidden heroes" stepped forward one after another to play the leading roles, in ways few expected.

That includes young midfielder Cong Phuong with his goal against U.23 Indonesia in the 2025 Southeast Asian Championship final, in only his second match as a starter under coach Kim. It also includes striker Thanh Nhan with her "golden" goal against U.23 Yemen in the 2026 U.23 Asian Championship qualifiers, helping U.23 Vietnam advance.

These also include players with untapped creative potential, such as Quoc Viet and Van Thuan. Coach Kim's relatively free-flowing attacking system provides a runway for talented players to create breakthroughs and showcase their abilities.

The U23 Vietnam team is still soaring on the wings of Dinh Bac. Even when tightly marked, the player from Nghe An province is still able to draw at least one or two opposing defenders away, leaving space for his teammates to fill and create opportunities. With attacking players increasingly proving their abilities thanks to their experience in the V-League, coach Kim Sang-sik has plenty of firepower in reserve to unleash at crucial moments.

Vietnam U.23 has a lot of firepower.

PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG

And when the attack runs out of options, Coach Kim still has good goal-scoring defenders ready to surge forward. Hieu Minh has scored 3 goals in 9 matches for the Vietnam U23 team, Minh Phuc also has 1 goal, and Phi Hoang, Ly Duc... have all left their mark on goals.

Aerial situations are becoming a source of goals for the Vietnam U.23 team, with 8 goals scored in the Southeast Asian U.23 Championship, most recently the opening goal against Malaysia U.23 in the final match of Group B.

A set-piece system with tall defenders and a formidable aerial ability could be the saving grace for the Vietnam U23 team. With a multifaceted Rubik's Cube at their disposal, Coach Kim Sang-sik's team is ready to decipher any defense.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dinh-bac-qua-an-tuong-o-u23-viet-nam-thay-kim-vua-mung-vua-lo-tai-sao-185251212143258274.htm