The Vietnam team will be stronger and more unpredictable with a dynamic midfield.

The Vietnamese team needs to rebuild the midfield to create a control-rich playing style, instead of just playing long balls or monotonous counter-attacks.

The Vietnamese team must control the rhythm of play.

One of the reasons why the Vietnamese team lost 0-4 to Malaysia in June in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers was that coach Kim Sang-sik's students completely lost control of the midfield.

In the match at Bukit Jalil, the Vietnamese team kept the score at 0-0 in the first half. But in the second half, when Malaysia increased the speed, the visiting team Vietnam could no longer maintain their position in the midfield. Hoang Duc and his teammates were caught up in the opponent's style of play, constantly chasing the ball and running out of energy. When the midfield collapsed, the defense was constantly "torn" by Malaysia. Losing 4 goals in a row was inevitable.

The Vietnamese team (red shirts) has a large number of midfield personnel.

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

The loss of the midfield has caused the Vietnamese team to suffer two consequences. The defense was attacked by the opponent at high intensity, and eventually collapsed under the pressure. Meanwhile, the offense could not find a stable rhythm throughout. Defender Cao Pendant Quang Vinh shared that the Vietnamese team had to play long balls too much. Long passes from the defense were neutralized because coach Kim Sang-sik no longer had a "lighthouse" who was good at fighting, strong and powerful like Xuan Son in the AFF Cup 2024.

Therefore, to reverse the situation against Malaysia, coach Kim Sang-sik needs to rebuild the midfield. The Korean coach does not have midfielder Ngoc Tan due to a long-term injury, but he still has experienced players to start again. That is the duo Hoang Duc and Duc Chien of Ninh Binh FC, along with Minh Khoa of Becamex TP.HCM.

Midfielder Hoang Duc had a low season last season when he chose to play in the first division for Ninh Binh FC. In the first division with no foreign players, low competition and Ninh Binh FC being overwhelmingly strong, Hoang Duc easily won the championship with the ancient capital team with 19 wins and 1 draw.

Hoang Duc needs to perform better.

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

He won the title of best player in the first division, but clearly, in the lower level, the 27-year-old midfielder can only play at a level that maintains his form, and it is difficult to break out. The proof is that when playing with a team of naturalized players of European and South American origin from Malaysia, Hoang Duc (and the midfield elements) were overwhelmed, unable to keep the ball against the opponent's high pressing speed and intensity of competition.

However, Hoang Duc has returned to the V-League and is flying high with Ninh Binh FC. He plays the role of the midfield boss, has 2 assists, contributing to the achievement of winning 9 points, scoring 10 goals after 3 matches of the ancient capital team. Hoang Duc not only returns to the V-League, but also breathes the fierce competitive atmosphere that he needs to have to get into the rhythm well with the Vietnam national team.

At the same time, Hoang Duc is also supported by Duc Chien, a long-time teammate at The Cong Viettel, now at Ninh Binh FC. Along with Minh Khoa, besides rookie Hoang Anh (played 46 matches in V-League in 2 seasons Nam Dinh won the championship), Mr. Kim has 4 central midfielders with enough technical qualities, vision and muscle to regenerate the midfield.

Test

The two matches against Nam Dinh Club (September 4) and Hanoi Police Club (September 7) are a high-dose "test" for the midfield of the Vietnamese team.

Because, both Nam Dinh and CAHN Club have a quality midfield, rich in strength and very good pressing. Nam Dinh Club has the "lighthouse" Caio Cesar dominating the midfield, while CAHN Club has Stefen Mauk (former U.23 Australia midfielder), as well as agile and skillful attackers, typically Leo Artur.

Great pressure for coach Kim Sang-sik

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

Against teams with good foreign players and effective ball control, how will the Vietnamese team control the game? That is the question coach Kim Sang-sik gives his students. Knowing how to apply pressure and control the game's tempo will help the Vietnamese team form a systematic and methodical style of play.

Coach Kim Sang-sik cannot rely solely on counter-attacks or long balls, because this style of play depends too much on an all-round striker like Xuan Son. And Xuan Son will be out for at least the rest of the year.

Coach Kim's reform will start from the "heart", where the midfield needs to operate more effectively for the Vietnamese team to return to the race.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-se-manh-va-kho-luong-hon-voi-tuyen-giua-nang-dong-185250901091433611.htm