TEAM SOLUTIONS IN THE ABSENCE OF Xuan Son
The absence of Xuan Son, Vi Hao and Van Toan will force coach Kim Sang-sik to rely on the Tien Linh - Tuan Hai duo (who have scored 16 goals in the V-League) and the striker pair currently playing in the first division, Cong Phuong - Dinh Thanh Binh (who have scored 11 goals). Mr. Kim is also considering using the familiar 3-4-3 formation or a 3-5-2 variation with Tien Linh playing alongside Tuan Hai or Cong Phuong playing wider. Regardless of the plan, the midfield will certainly have to shoulder a huge amount of work, from covering the defense, competing for the midfield to bringing the ball to the opponent's 1/3 of the field. With the current personnel, will the Vietnamese team be ready to play domineeringly in Malaysia like the atmosphere of the second leg of the 2024 AFF Cup final in Thailand? The answer will depend on coach Kim Sang-sik, although information is showing that he will aim for a draw rather than playing domineeringly to demonstrate his champion's prestige.
Duc Chien (left) and Minh Khoa compete for the ball on Binh Duong field at V-League 2024-2025
Photo: Ngoc Linh
Football expert Doan Minh Xuong linked the difference from Xuan Son in the AFF Cup 2024: "The Vietnamese team played quite hard, focusing on wearing down the opponent and waiting to finish the match in the second half, until Xuan Son appeared, sweeping away the opponent's defense thanks to his strong pressing and sweeping ability. In football, the intention to build a style of play must be based on the ability of the person to execute. With Xuan Son, we witnessed the Vietnamese team playing aggressively against Thailand right on the opponent's home field. But at this time, when Xuan Son has not returned, the Vietnamese team will have to choose a more solid approach, with the key operation revolving around the midfield."
OPPORTUNITY FOR Duc Chien, Minh Khoa
Doan Ngoc Tan's absence will open up opportunities for Minh Khoa and Duc Chien. In his debut match for the Vietnam national team in March, Minh Khoa played the full 90 minutes and was rated 7.5 points by Sofascore (an application that tracks sports statistics and results). Obviously, the midfielder who has 3 goals and 2 assists for Binh Duong FC has scored very well in the eyes of coach Kim Sang-sik with a 91% pass success rate. However, Duc Chien's return to the Vietnam national team is also noteworthy after being absent from the 2024 AFF Cup and the training session in March. The midfielder of The Cong Viettel is a typical strong warrior: always present at every hot spot, ready for disputes.
Mr. Doan Minh Xuong commented: "Duc Chien has the advantage of experience, strength and ability to compete to replace Doan Ngoc Tan. This is even more suitable for coach Kim Sang-sik's search for stability, calculating that he is not allowed to lose at the "fire pan" Bukit Jalil. Duc Chien can even play as an anchor to guard the defense, while Hoang Duc, depending on the situation, moves up to find attacking opportunities. Having played together for many years at The Cong Viettel Club will be an advantage for this "literary and martial" midfielder pair. However, Minh Khoa also has his own advantages that cannot be ignored. His increasingly comprehensive and intelligent playing style will help him easily adapt to many different intentions of the coach. This season, Minh Khoa has also significantly improved his ability to compete and the intensity of his activities. When he has the ball, he plays quickly, with few touches but effectively, very suitable for the requirements of coach Kim Sang-sik. The two flanks of the Vietnamese team now have Van Vi and Tien Anh playing mobilely, with the backup plan Quang Vinh and Xuan Manh. They are all physically strong, fast and highly mobile, suitable for both the intention of playing for a draw or controlling the match. Duc Chien, if he starts, will be a safe choice, but if Minh Khoa starts from the beginning, we can expect more surprises from the fair and imposing game of coach Kim Sang-sik. Very interesting and worth looking forward to."
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-tap-trung-gia-co-tuyen-giua-185250527214709341.htm
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