Cao Pendant Quang Vinh in the Vietnamese national team jersey - Photo: VFF
Defensive losses...
Vietnam and Malaysia will have to compete for the only ticket of Group F to the final round of the 2027 Asian Cup. Therefore, the first leg match with host Malaysia is important for both teams before the rematch in Hanoi (expected) on March 31, 2026.
However, coach Kim Sang Sik is facing many difficulties in defense for the first leg. Specifically, Mr. Kim lost two central defenders Bui Hoang Viet Anh and Nguyen Thanh Binh.
Despite adding central defenders Dang Van Toi and Pham Ly Duc, Mr. Kim still has reason to worry when facing Malaysian strikers. Not to mention the competitive spirit of both is also a problem when the Vietnamese team plays at the "fire pan" Bukit Jalil, which can accommodate up to 90,000 spectators.
In fact, Thanh Chung, Tien Dung, Pham Xuan Manh and Duy Manh are rotated by coach Kim Sang Sik in the trio of central defenders at the ASEAN Cup 2024.
Therefore, the absence of Viet Anh and Thanh Binh is not a big problem, but it also affects Mr. Kim when planning tactics or when needing to reinforce the defense if the starting lineup does not play well. In particular, Viet Anh is the one who can replace Thanh Chung well in the position of sweeper center back.
Bui Hoang Viet Anh (left) suffered an injury that affected the Vietnam team - Photo: NK
...and a difficult problem for Mr. Kim
In the first leg friendly match against Cape Verde (Africa, ranked 72nd in the world ) which ended 1-1 on May 29, Malaysia had 17 shots (8 on target) compared to 12 shots (4 on target) of their opponents. The equalizer was scored by naturalized striker Paulo Josue (Brazil).
In addition to Paulo Josue, the Vietnamese defense is also wary of naturalized striker Romel Morales (1m87, Colombia) - who has scored 2 goals in 9 matches for the Malaysian national team. In addition, there is information that Malaysia has just added Argentine striker Rodrigo Holgado - a player currently playing for America de Cali Club in the Colombian Championship. This shows that Holgado will be Malaysia's most formidable striker.
Therefore, choosing a defense requires coach Kim Sang Sik to consider quite a lot. Even choosing which trio of central defenders to play as the main player between Bui Tien Dung, Thanh Chung, Duy Manh and Pham Xuan Manh is a difficult question for Mr. Kim. If choosing Xuan Manh, Mr. Kim must abandon Duy Manh - a central defender with good height and fierce fighting ability, suitable for marking naturalized strikers from Malaysia.
Regarding new players for the defense, Van Toi or Pham Ly Duc - as mentioned above - will find it difficult to get a place. Instead, Mr. Kim can use new recruit Cao Pendant Quang Vinh or Duc Chien, a duo that can play many positions. Quang Vinh can play as Bui Tien Dung's left center back thanks to his better height (1m77 compared to 1m72) and impressive skills due to his previous playing in France.
Duc Chien played as a sweeper center back alongside Duy Manh and Bui Tien Dung in Mr. Kim's debut match, when the Vietnamese team beat the Philippines 3-2 in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup.
Hopefully from now until the match day, coach Kim Sang Sik will find the optimal lineup for Vietnam's defense.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/loi-giai-nao-cho-hang-thu-tuyen-viet-nam-20250603095826085.htm
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