Vietnam team and defense concerns

Looking at what happened at FIFA Days in September, it is clear that coach Kim Sang-sik wants to strongly reform the defense of the Vietnamese team. This is a difficult problem, but not without a solution.

MR. NG K IM WANTS TO IMPROVE THE TEAM'S DEFENSE

The 5-man defense with the core of 3 central defenders used to be the solid support of the Vietnamese team under coach Park Hang-seo. Que Ngoc Hai, Do Duy Manh, Bui Tien Dung, Tran Dinh Trong, Nguyen Trong Hoang, Doan Van Hau... contributed greatly to the achievements of winning the AFF Cup 2018, reaching the quarter-finals of the Asian Cup 2019, and then the 3rd qualifying round of the World Cup 2022... For many years, the Vietnamese team continued to operate according to the tactical formation of 3 central defenders, but the certainty was no longer guaranteed.

In the 2024 AFF Cup, the Vietnamese team won the championship but also conceded 6 goals, 2 more than the 2018 AFF Cup. In the 2nd qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, Mr. Kim and his team conceded 10 goals, double the number in the 2022 World Cup. The 0-4 defeat to the Malaysian team in the 3rd qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup made the Korean strategist wake up. He was forced to start looking for alternatives.

Ly Duc (right) deserves the opportunity to wear the Vietnamese national team jersey.

PHOTO: MINH TU

Looking at the list of the Vietnamese team in the FIFA Days series in September, we can clearly see how much pressure Mr. Kim is under to improve the defense. In the group of new players, the Korean strategist called up 4 defenders including Dang Van Toi, Dinh Quang Kiet, Phan Du Hoc, Tran Hoang Phuc, the remaining one is striker Pham Gia Hung. It is worth mentioning that these defenders have not shown much in the V-League. And of course, they will hardly meet expectations. As a result, the Vietnamese team conceded 7 goals in 2 friendly matches with Nam Dinh Club and Hanoi Police Club (CAHN). We can justify conceding 4 goals in the match against the reigning V-League champion by saying that Coach Vu Hong Viet used 11 foreign players. But even when Coach Polking used many domestic players, the Vietnamese team still conceded 3 goals in the match against CAHN Club.

EXPECTATIONS FROM U.23 VN STARS

Warning signs have appeared in the defense. However, coach Kim Sang-sik still has a chance to overcome weaknesses before the important rematch with the Malaysian team in March 2026. First, in the FIFA Days series next October, when the Vietnamese team will have two confrontations with Nepal, the Korean strategist can give opportunities to the central defenders of the U.23 Vietnam team. Pham Ly Duc, Nguyen Hieu Minh, Nguyen Nhat Minh can join Nguyen Thanh Chung, Do Duy Manh, Nguyen Thanh Binh... to form a new trio of central defenders for the Vietnamese team. Full-backs such as Nguyen Phi Hoang and Vo Anh Quan are also options worth considering. Meeting the Nepal team (a much weaker opponent) is a great opportunity for Mr. Kim to experiment.

At that time, the U.23 Vietnam's key defenders learned more experience from their seniors and trained their battle skills. At the same time, they also maintained a regular international competition schedule, preparing well for the journey to conquer the gold medal in men's football at the 33rd SEA Games, taking place in Thailand at the end of the year.

The pillars of the U.23 Vietnam team also showed that they deserved to be given the opportunity. Last season, Ly Duc played well, helping HAGL stay in the league and was recruited by CAHN. Meanwhile, Hieu Minh always maintained stability in the PVF-CAND club shirt, while Nhat Minh matured through each season under the hands of coach Chu Dinh Nghiem. Then when wearing the national team shirt, these players all played impressively, helping U.23 Vietnam win the 2025 U.23 Southeast Asia Championship and win a ticket to the 2026 U.23 Asian Cup Finals.

Coach Kim Sang-sik understands that to achieve long-term goals, he needs a solid foundation. And that foundation is rebuilding the defense from these new bricks. The combination of the experience of the seniors and the youth of the U.23 generation promises to create a new steel wall for the Vietnamese team in the future.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-va-noi-lo-hang-thu-18525090918450192.htm