Coach Kim Sang-sik eliminated 5 players from U.23 Vietnam: Is there a 1.95 m tall center back?

The list of U.23 Vietnam players attending SEA Games 33 was finalized by coach Kim Sang-sik today (November 29), with 5 players saying goodbye to the team.

U.23 Vietnam makes Mr. Kim... lose sleep

Today (November 29), Coach Kim Sang-sik will cross out 5 players (out of 28 current faces) to finalize the list of 23 names of U.23 Vietnam who will go to Thailand to attend SEA Games 33.

"I lost sleep over having to make a choice. All the players are training and living professionally, but I have to make the best decision for the team," coach Kim Sang-sik shared.

With a group of players that are relatively equal in physique and skill, it is not easy for the Korean strategist to decide who to keep and who to drop. Most likely, the defense lines that are currently overstaffed, such as midfielders and strikers, will have some players say goodbye.

Can Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong conquer coach Kim Sang-sik?

PHOTO: Ho Chi Minh City Police Club

In midfield, coach Kim Sang-sik has 9 names, including 6 central midfielders including Thai Son, Xuan Bac, Van Khang, Thanh Trung, Quoc Cuong, Duc Viet, and 3 attacking midfielders (Van Thuan, Le Viktor, Cong Phuong). 6 central midfielders for a position that only requires 2 starting players and 2 reserve players, meaning at least 1 to 2 central midfielders are at risk of leaving the team.

Among Mr. Kim’s central midfielders, Thai Son and Xuan Bac played together in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship qualifiers and performed quite well. This is the ideal midfield pair for Vietnam U23 at the 33rd SEA Games.

Coach Kim Sang-sik 'lost sleep' before joining U.23 Vietnam at SEA Games

Thai Son has been playing for the Vietnamese national team since June 2023 and is highly regarded for his experience in both domestic and international competitions. Xuan Bac is a new discovery of coach Kim Sang-sik, when he started in the important stages of the U.23 Southeast Asian tournament, the U.23 Asian qualifiers, and then joined the national team in October.

The competition mainly takes place in the group of Thanh Trung, Quoc Cuong and Duc Viet, when 2 out of 3 names may have to say goodbye.

Thanh Trung is the youngest (born in 2005), and only returned to Vietnam in the middle of the year, but the "rough diamond" who played in Bulgaria has potential, thanks to his comprehensive playing style, good passing and tackling ability.

Unlike the first stage, Thanh Trung is on the way to integrating with more minutes on the field for Ninh Binh . However, to stay, the former Slavia Sofia midfielder must strive to compete and show special qualities.

Coach Kim Sang-sik is carefully selecting

PHOTO: VFF

On the attack line, Le Phat is a promising face of Ninh Binh. However, compared to experienced seniors such as Dinh Bac, Thanh Nhan, Quoc Viet, Vi Hao, Ngoc My... Le Phat is still young and inexperienced.

At the age of 18, Mr. Kim's "rough diamond" will not be able to stay. Unless he has an outstanding performance on the final day, otherwise, Le Phat may miss the opportunity to play in the SEA Games.

Will Dinh Quang Kiet stay?

Center back Dinh Quang Kiet is a strange case of U.23 Vietnam.

Quang Kiet was not on the list of U.23 Vietnam participating in the U.23 Southeast Asia tournament (was removed from the list in July). However, 2 months later, the HAGL midfielder was on the list of... the Vietnam team in the September training session, to play friendly matches with Nam Dinh and Hanoi Police Club.

Quang Kiet was born in 2007, is the "youngest" of U.23 Vietnam (youngest in the team, along with striker Le Phat). He has never played under coach Kim Sang-sik.

However, Quang Kiet has a natural height of 1.95 m, and has improved while playing regularly for HAGL, so he was called up to the Vietnam national team by Mr. Kim, and then continued to wear the U.23 Vietnam shirt during the preparation period before the 33rd SEA Games.

Match schedule of U.23 Vietnam in Group B SEA Games 33

PHOTO: VFF

However, when U.23 Vietnam has formed a stable defensive framework, with the trio Hieu Minh, Nhat Minh and Ly Duc, Quang Kiet will find it difficult to compete for a starting position.

Even the reserve position is difficult, when Van Ha ( Hanoi Club) and Duc Anh (Da Nang Club) are both capable and were given the opportunity to compete in the recently concluded friendly tournament in China.

Coach Kim Sang-sik plans to drop one or two central defenders. Perhaps Quang Kiet or Duc Anh (or both) will not be on the official list. However, these are still reliable "rough gems" with the ability to go far if exploited properly.

Mr. Kim will finalize the list of 23 U.23 Vietnam players after the training session this afternoon (November 29). On December 1, the whole team will leave for Thailand, starting their journey at the 33rd SEA Games.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-loai-5-cau-thu-khoi-u23-viet-nam-co-trung-ve-cao-195-m-185251129064603236.htm