Vietnam Team: Prepare to reverse the situation and beat Malaysia from now on!

Urgent task of Vietnam team

On August 29, the Vietnamese team will gather at the Youth Football Training Center ( Hanoi ), with the third training session in 2025. This is the only training session this year, coach Kim Sang-sik's students will only play friendly matches, and will not participate in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

However, the friendly matches outside of FIFA Days at this time can be seen as a necessary break for the Vietnamese team. The 0-4 defeat to Malaysia not only puts the ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup further out of reach, but also raises the question: when opponents like Indonesia, Malaysia... continuously recruit players of European and South American origin, what must the Vietnamese team do to maintain its position?

Vietnam team (red shirts) gathers on August 29

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

This September lull is an opportunity for the Vietnamese football machine to find answers. Even if it does not lose heavily to Malaysia, the Vietnamese team still needs a rebuild. The AFF Cup 2024 championship has a huge mark of naturalized striker Xuan Son, along with a generation of players who are almost 30 years old together. When opponents find a source of European expatriates, or rejuvenate the squad, the Vietnamese team cannot stop at a generation of players who are getting older every day.

Therefore, each training session until the rematch with Malaysia is an important step for the Vietnamese team to ignite a comeback. The first step is to find new elements to purify the force. When overseas Vietnamese such as central defender Adou Minh, fullback Kevin Pham Ba, or foreign player Hendrio... cannot obtain citizenship, coach Kim Sang-sik and acting coach Dinh Hong Vinh still try to create a new breeze with strange elements.

In defense, there is the duo Tran Hoang Phuc (HCMC Police Club) and Dinh Quang Kiet (HAGL). While Hoang Phuc has an aggressive and fiery playing style, Quang Kiet possesses a height of 1.96 m, which is rare among Vietnamese players.

The midfield line calls for Ly Cong Hoang Anh, a former U.23 Vietnam player who won the 31st SEA Games (2022). Hoang Anh is a mainstay in Nam Dinh 's 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 V-League championship squad (playing 49/52 maximum matches in the V-League). The midfielder born in 1999 has good vision and physical strength, can play all over the field, and competes extremely "hotly".

In addition, there are new players such as goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan (Hanoi), or striker Pham Gia Hung ( Ninh Binh ).

Vietnam team needs to purify its force

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

The rookies will find it difficult to win a starting position right now, but they are strong enough to create competition, urging the mainstays to work hard to protect their positions.

New painting

The second step is to improve the playing style. In the match against Malaysia, the Vietnamese team could only play long balls when the midfield lost control. However, when Xuan Son was absent, long passes to small and light players like Nguyen Hai Long and Chau Ngoc Quang were neutralized.

In the disputes, Do Duy Manh and his teammates mostly faced tall players playing in Europe such as Joao Figueiredo (Galatasaray) or Facundo Garces (Alaves).

Improving physical strength, ability to compete as well as controlling the game better are what the Vietnamese team needs to improve. Just right for coach Dinh Hong Vinh and his students, when the team will have friendly matches with Nam Dinh Club and Hanoi Police Club (CAHN Club).

Every game is a lesson

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

Nam Dinh FC has 11 foreign players, including very tall and "tough" players such as Kyle Hudlin (2.06 m), Caio Cesar (1.86 m), Romulo da Silva (1.85 m) or Marlos Brenner (1.82 m). Nam Dinh's style of playing with high balls also helps the Vietnamese team's defense to practice better in aerial combat, man-to-man and pressing.

CAHN FC has fewer foreign players, but has a very strong and cohesive midfield. The attacking style of play, rich in control and smooth passing of the team led by coach Alexandre Polking, requires the Vietnamese team to press and cover effectively to prevent.

Every match, every training session is a lesson for the Vietnamese team to improve. If they seize the opportunity, Hoang Duc and his teammates can gradually improve, then gradually "light the fire" for the hope of turning the tables in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-chuan-bi-nguoc-dong-thang-malaysia-tu-bay-gio-185250827074144049.htm