The Vietnamese team is very attractive.

MR. KIM HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS IN LEADER TIEN LINH

Tien Linh enters the 2024 AFF Cup in superb form since the start of the season: 7 goals in the 2024-2025 V-League, in addition to 4 goals for the Vietnamese national team (against Thailand, Ulsan Citizen, and 2 against the Philippines). The top scorer of the 2022 AFF Cup will be the biggest hope for the Vietnamese national team in the first three crucial matches in Group B, against Laos (December 9th), Indonesia (December 15th), and the Philippines (December 18th). If Tien Linh continues his current scoring streak, it will create a pleasant "headache" for coach Kim Sang-sik before Xuan Son can make his debut in the match against Myanmar on December 21st.

Tien Linh aims for success at the 2024 AFF Cup.

Theoretically, Xuan Son is considered superior to Tien Linh due to his physical advantages and the stamina of a foreign player. However, Tien Linh has the advantage of understanding Coach Kim Sang-sik's tactics and, more importantly, having a strong understanding and connection with his teammates after many years of experience. With his professionalism on the field and harmonious relationships with his teammates, Tien Linh is often elected vice-captain of the Vietnamese national team. If Tien Linh plays well and scores consistently in the 2024 AFF Cup, Coach Kim will need a good plan to effectively utilize both Tien Linh and Nguyen Xuan Son in the Vietnamese national team's attack. Both players, born in 1997, will fiercely compete for the center forward position in the Vietnamese national team, alongside another candidate, Dinh Thanh Binh, to help the Vietnamese attack play effectively and make opponents wary.

A GREAT MOTIVATION FROM THE VIETNAMESE BALLON D' OR

As a regular member of the Vietnamese national team for many years, Tien Linh understands that collective victory is the ultimate goal. He will welcome and support his new teammate Xuan Son, as he has done with many other players. Tien Linh and Xuan Son will compete for the center forward position, but both can also be on the field simultaneously when the Vietnamese team needs a goal to decide the match. The Brazilian-born player can play on the wing when Tien Linh is positioned highest in the attack. Or the Binh Duong Club captain can play behind Xuan Son to support his teammate.

Tien Linh has prepared very well for the 2024 AFF Cup by making an impressive start in the 2024-2025 V-League with 7 goals (equal to Xuan Son), and he is currently maintaining his good form while training with the Vietnamese national team. Especially in the first half of the 2024 AFF Cup, Tien Linh will have a strong motivation to score goals, as Xuan Son is still unavailable. Tien Linh is also very eager to win his first Vietnamese Golden Ball award, so he will do his best in this AFF Cup. Currently, Tien Linh is leading the race with 20 goals across all competitions for Binh Duong Club and the Vietnamese national team. Tien Linh stated that the decision on player selection rests with coach Kim Sang-sik, but he will sincerely welcome Nguyen Xuan Son and provide full support to help the naturalized player integrate into the Vietnamese national team as soon as possible.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tien-linh-chao-don-xuan-son-tai-aff-cup-2024-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-rat-hap-dan-185241205210437255.htm