Vietnam team needs Hoang Hen to overwhelm Malaysia

The poor performance against Laos (won 2-0, Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers) is a warning for the difficult journey in 2026 of the Vietnamese team and coach Kim Sang-sik.

1 YEAR... STANDING IN PLACE

The Vietnamese team ended 2025 with 5 wins and 1 loss, achieving a winning rate of 83.3%, the highest since 2018. However, it cannot be said that coach Kim Sang-sik and his team had a successful year, especially after the AFF Cup 2024.

Because the Vietnamese team can only win with less convincing performance against weaker teams, such as Laos (2-0), Nepal (3-1, 1-0) or Cambodia (2-1). In the only match against opponents of the same "weight class" as Malaysia, Quang Hai and his teammates lost 0-4.

Although Malaysia used illegally naturalized players and is at risk of being disqualified by the Asian Football Confederation (meaning Vietnam won a ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup early), it must be recognized that over the past year, the Vietnamese team has not been able to perform better than itself.

Hoang Hen (middle) is the choice to upgrade the midfield of the Vietnamese team.

PHOTO: DONG HUYEN

The shortcomings of the Vietnamese team were clearly revealed in the last 3 matches against Laos and Nepal. Against opponents 60-70 levels lower, Mr. Kim's students, although dominating the ball possession, attacked superficially, hastily, could not control the rhythm of the game, and did not have clear ideas for the ball. Crossing, passing or long-range shots mainly came from individual efforts. When individuals are outstanding, as in the case of Xuan Son in the AFF Cup, the Vietnamese team will win. On the contrary, when individuals are lackluster, collective strength does not help Vietnam play better, because the philosophical lines are still vague.

The long slide of the Vietnamese team is not the fault of coach Kim Sang-sik. The Korean strategist took over a generation of pillars who are near (or past) the age of 30. The 2000-2002 generation, which should have been at their peak to take on the national team, is now just a shadow of hope. The current U.23 generation (born in 2003-2004) is still too young, inexperienced in the V-League and needs time to mature, instead of being "forced to mature".

The weak and insufficient force of the Vietnamese team forced coach Kim Sang-sik to "dig up" the V-League to find gold. Sometimes, Mr. Kim was successful with Dinh Trieu and Ngoc Tan, but sometimes, what he got in return were only faces that were called up to the national team once or twice and then... disappeared.

With a patchwork squad, the Vietnamese team can still reach the 2027 Asian Cup, in the context of the Malaysian team's appeal gradually coming to an end. However, how to play the AFF Cup 2026, Asian Cup 2027 and the 2030 World Cup qualifiers with the current players, coach Kim Sang-sik needs to calculate how to call up new factors.

THE DOOR IS OPEN AGAIN

On the evening of November 19, Do Hoang Hen watched the entire match between Vietnam and Laos. The midfielder born in 1994 has Vietnamese nationality and is waiting to wear the national team jersey. The final barrier between Hoang Hen and the national team is the approval of the World Football Federation (FIFA).

With all the documents, and 5 years of living and competing in Vietnam, it is only a matter of time. Mr. Kim can own Hoang Hen in March 2026, when Vietnam rematches Malaysia.

In the matches against Nepal or Laos, coach Kim Sang-sik's team, despite holding the ball 65% of the time, was still stuck and rushed, because they lacked a passer who was both brave enough to share the role of coordinator with Hoang Duc and creative enough to transform the attack.

Hoang Hen has all the qualities that the Vietnamese team needs. A creative midfielder with sharp vision, skillful feet, excellent passing and finishing ability. Although he had to rest for half a year due to injury and waiting for citizenship, Hoang Hen only needed 1 month of training with coach Harry Kewell ( Hanoi Club) to show his superior qualities compared to the Vietnamese players.

Although using naturalized players is not a sustainable path, when Hoang Hen is 32 years old and Xuan Son will be 29 years old next year, but at this time, perhaps the Vietnamese team has no other choice.

After Hoang Hen, foreign players like Janclesio, Gustavo and Geovane, or the overseas Vietnamese players with Adou Minh and Kyle Colonna are also waiting for Vietnamese citizenship. This is a group of potential players, but how to use them skillfully, both to improve the team and not take the place of Vietnamese players, depends on Mr. Kim.

In 2026, when the U.23 generation can freely express themselves and the naturalized players begin to gain a foothold, the reform will begin. The Vietnamese team must play brilliantly against Malaysia to wake up, to forget that 2025 was not so good.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-can-hoang-hen-de-ap-dao-malaysia-185251120220016823.htm