Hoang Hen - the master key for the Vietnam team?

One of the reasons why the Vietnamese team struggled to win against much weaker opponents in 2025 was the lack of a player capable of creating a breakthrough in the midfield.

The Vietnamese team closed out 2025 with a 2-0 victory over Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. However, if the 2024 ASEAN Cup final is taken out of this year's professional plan, it must be admitted that the team has not made any significant progress in terms of playing style.

Win but not satisfied, why?

In 2025, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team will play 5 matches, winning 4 and losing 1. Four victories against Laos and Nepal are within expectations. These two opponents are 70 places below Vietnam in the FIFA rankings. In matches that require the team to show their mettle, such as the match against Malaysia, Mr. Kim's team lost 0-4 after 11 years of always achieving favorable results against their opponents.

Notably, the victories over Laos and Nepal were not very satisfying either. The Vietnamese team’s playing style continued to fall into a deadlock. The two second-leg victories further demonstrated this when the team only scored goals after the opponent’s mistakes, from an own kick to a handball in the penalty area.

The general scenario is easy to predict: Vietnam holds the ball and presses the field while Laos and Nepal retreat their entire squad to their own half to park the “bus”. This is a reasonable choice for weaker teams, so it cannot be considered a surprise. The worrying thing is that Vietnam still cannot break through that dense defense in a coherent way. The coordination is not sharp, the attack speed is not fast enough, and the explosion is almost non-existent.

Vietnam team still lacks a player who can create breakthroughs.

There are two possibilities leading to this deadlock. First, coach Kim Sang-sik's tactical preparation is not effective. Second, the players on the attack line are not good enough to penetrate the multi-layered defense system. This is a problem that needs to be addressed. Because except for Tuan Anh or Van Toan, the team has used most of the best attacking faces available. Hoang Duc, Quang Hai, Thanh Long... have all been given opportunities. But they have not shown their leadership role in terms of expertise, have not created "unlocking" passes of sufficient quality despite being very diligent in moving and controlling the ball.

Xuan Son's return in the second half against Laos helped the team play brighter. But to defeat stronger opponents like Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand, Coach Kim needs truly quality players. One of them is Hoang Hen, who will be eligible to play for the Vietnam national team from January 12, 2026 after completing 5 years of living in Vietnam.

The value of Hoang Hen

Do Hoan Hen possesses all the qualities of a good organizing midfielder. He has excellent technique, but is not fussy. Hoang Hen's ball handling is delicate, maintaining the attack at a reasonable speed. His neat touches and directional passes help the team create more threatening situations.

Hoang Hen’s tactical vision is his greatest strength. He reads the game well, ready to make through passes or open up the wing to create breakthroughs. That is why many coaches consider Hoang Hen a “master” in creating opportunities.

There is a high possibility that Hoan Hen will be able to wear the national team jersey next year.

Not only good at controlling the ball, Hoang Hen also has impressive finishing ability. The Brazilian-born player's highly accurate long-range shots were once an important weapon in Binh Dinh, Nam Dinh and now Hanoi.

It is not advisable to place too much hope on a player. But with the current reality, when many faces on the Vietnamese national team's attack line are approaching the limit of their abilities, the trust in Hoang Hen is reasonable. He has proven his worth through each season and is increasingly perfecting his ability to connect the play.

2026 will be the time when the Vietnamese team will face stronger opponents. At that time, the team will need a true conductor. And among the current options, Hoang Hen is the one who deserves to be given that trust.

Source: https://znews.vn/hoang-hen-chia-khoa-van-nang-cho-tuyen-viet-nam-post1604729.html