The defense has a knack for scoring goals; coach Kim Sang-sik shouldn't let that go to waste.

Vietnam's versatile defense

The Vietnamese national team has called up five central defenders for their training camp in South Korea: Do Duy Manh, Bui Tien Dung, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, and Nguyen Thanh Binh.

This is also currently the most comprehensive defensive framework in Vietnamese football, with center-backs possessing ideal physiques, extensive experience, and consistently strong defensive skills. Furthermore, center-backs like Viet Anh and Thanh Chung also have a knack for scoring goals, both at the club and national team levels.

Bui Hoang Viet Anh previously scored a goal at the 2023 Asian Cup.

Despite playing as a central defender, Viet Anh scored 5 goals in the V-League for Hanoi Police FC last season. He ranked second among the team's top Vietnamese goalscorers, behind only Nguyen Quang Hai.

Viet Anh's goal-scoring prowess was first rediscovered in the 2020 season, when he first joined Hanoi FC (from Ha Tinh FC). The 1999-born central defender scored 4 goals in the 2020 V-League, and then continued his scoring spree in the 2021 National Super Cup match, helping Hanoi FC defeat The Cong Viettel . In the 2022 National Cup, Viet Anh shocked everyone with a goal from... midfield in Hanoi FC's emphatic victory against CAND FC (now CAHN FC).

Upon moving to CAHN Club, Viet Anh once again demonstrated his goal-scoring prowess, often rescuing his team in difficult matches. In particular, his left-footed curling shot against SLNA last season showcased the technical skill and composure of the 25-year-old player.

Thành Chung is also a prolific goalscorer, with 9 goals for Hanoi FC. The player born in 1997 is good in aerial duels and has scored many headers in both the V-League and the Vietnam U.23 team.

Thanh Chung (left) also has a knack for scoring goals.

Thành Chung's positioning, jumping ability, and heading skills are so good that coach Chu Đình Nghiêm has even promoted him to play as a striker in some matches. In response, the Hanoi FC center-back usually plays at least adequately and has scored important goals. For example, in the 2019 season, Thành Chung scored 4 goals in the V-League.

Forgotten Weapons

Besides Viet Anh and Thanh Chung, center-backs like Thanh Binh, Duy Manh, and Tien Dung can step in to score goals when needed, thanks to their jumping ability and proven heading skills at their clubs.

The goal-scoring prowess of defenders has helped the Vietnamese national team find the net against many strong opponents. At the 2023 Asian Cup, three out of the four goals Vietnam scored against Japan and Iraq had the involvement of defenders: Viet Anh scored one goal and assisted one, while Thanh Binh also had one assist.

During Coach Park Hang-seo's tenure, Que Ngoc Hai scored two penalty goals in official tournaments (against Indonesia and Malaysia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers). He also provided assists, notably the pass to Quang Hai for the goal against Malaysia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, and the cross that led to Tien Linh's header against Thailand in the first leg of the 2022 AFF Cup final.

The Vietnamese national team needs more attacking options.

Central defender Thanh Bình also scored a memorable goal against Japan in the second leg of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Similarly, when playing for the national team, Đoàn Văn Hậu and Nguyễn Trọng Hoàng also played aggressively in attack, scoring important goals and providing crucial assists.

When the attack is neutralized, the goal-scoring prowess of the defense will be a dangerous weapon for coach Kim Sang-sik. However, under the South Korean coach, the Vietnamese defenders have yet to score a goal, making very little contribution to the attack.

Coach Kim Sang-sik needs to "unlock" this weapon to strengthen the Vietnamese national team at the 2024 AFF Cup.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-hang-thu-co-duyen-ghi-ban-hlv-kim-sang-sik-dung-de-phi-185241130140140112.htm