A warning for the Vietnam team

Vietnam team struggles with how to operate the game. Photo: Thu Khuc .

On the evening of October 9, the Vietnamese team won 3-1 against Nepal in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Against a team 62 places lower in the FIFA rankings (Nepal ranked 172), coach Kim Sang-sik's students controlled the ball up to 75%, launched 25 shots. However, only 3 of them were converted into goals.

Win but not convincing enough

“Looking at the ball possession rate and the number of chances, it can be seen that Vietnam completely dominated. But the problem lies in how the players took advantage and turned the pressure into efficiency,” former assistant coach of the Vietnam national team Bae Ji-won told Tri Thuc - Znews.

Having worked for a long time in Thailand and Vietnam, the Korean strategist believes that this is a necessary victory in terms of results, but not enough to create confidence in terms of tactics. He emphasizes that the high ball possession rate is a positive signal, but the team has not yet reached the expected performance and professional quality.

“Despite taking the initiative and playing with more players most of the time, the Vietnamese team could not maintain stable pressure on their opponents. In terms of tactics, the coordination still lacked cohesion, and did not create the familiar identity that had helped the team succeed in the past,” he said.

Former Viettel The Cong coach also pointed out that a Nepalese player getting a red card at the end of the first half was a turning point that helped Vietnam play easier. “When the opponent had only 10 players left, the team had more space and time to develop the ball. However, that cannot be the basis for properly assessing the team’s operational capacity. If facing an opponent of equal or stronger level, Vietnam would hardly have many such opportunities,” he commented.

The Vietnamese team was almost deadlocked in the first half of the match against Nepal. Photo: Anh Tien.

Struggling to define the gameplay

Besides, the Vietnamese defense still caused many concerns. In the opponent's equalizer, center back Do Duy Manh was defeated by Shres Tha in a one-on-one fight before the opponent jumped high to head the ball into Van Lam's net.

In this situation, coach Bae Ji-won analyzed: “It is not just a personal error. Conceding a goal from a set piece is the fault of the whole system. The defensive players must coordinate better, move and occupy the right position. The Vietnamese team used to be very strong in collective defense, but now it is lacking that.”

He believes that veteran players in defense such as Duy Manh, Xuan Manh or Bui Tien Dung are no longer at their peak, making them vulnerable to exploitation: “They have played together since the U23s, understand each other and are experienced. But age and performance have a clear impact.”

Also according to the Korean strategist, in the midfield, after the all-round midfielder like Hung Dung has reached the other side of his career, the Vietnamese team has not found a suitable replacement. Hoang Duc is still a bright spot in organizing the attack, but he is more about technique and coordination than competition.

“Modern football requires flexibility. Players must know how to control and compete. When the Vietnamese team only has midfielders with good technique but weak defense, the team structure can easily be broken,” he added.

The Korean expert also said that after changing coaches, the team needs time to adapt to the new philosophy. But during the transition, the Vietnamese team has not yet created a clear tactical system. "It feels like the players are still learning how to operate, not achieving the same synchronization as before," coach Bae Ji-won continued.

According to him, Vietnamese football currently lacks individuals capable of creating breakthroughs in the front line like Nguyen Quang Hai or energetic players on the wing like Doan Van Hau and Nguyen Trong Hoang in the past. “When there are no breakthrough attacks, the team has to rely heavily on collective coordination. But if the system itself is not really stable, the gameplay will easily become stagnant,” he analyzed.

The return match is an opportunity for new elements. Photo: Anh Tien.

The Korean coach also emphasized that the Vietnamese team needs to see the match with Nepal as an important test: “This is a good opportunity for the coaching staff to evaluate the ability of each position, and then adjust the personnel accordingly. We should not see the 3-1 victory as a perfect result, but rather as the first step towards perfection.”

However, he still believes in coach Kim Sang-sik's ability: "Coach Kim understands Vietnamese football and has a clear attacking philosophy. The important thing is that he needs more time to help the players adapt. Choosing the right personnel and shaping the style will decide the direction of the team."

Opportunity for new elements

According to the schedule, the Vietnamese team will play Nepal again at Thong Nhat Stadium on October 14. Coach Bae Ji-won said that this is the right time for Coach Kim Sang-sik to verify tactical adjustments and evaluate the players' adaptation.

“This match also provides an opportunity for coach Kim Sang-sik to test the squad and evaluate new faces. However, the players given the opportunity must demonstrate their professional quality and ability to integrate into the coach’s tactical philosophy. Only then can the Vietnamese team get closer to perfection and be competitive enough in major Asian tournaments,” he emphasized.

A 3-1 win over Nepal was an acceptable result, but the way Vietnam won left many concerns. From an uncertain defense to an unbalanced midfield, coach Kim Sang-sik’s team still needs time to shape their identity and regain the stability that helped Vietnam reach regional level.

Source: https://znews.vn/loi-canh-bao-cho-tuyen-viet-nam-post1592803.html