Coach Kim came up with a hot plan, 'picking out mistakes' on both wings of the Vietnamese team

The two Vietnamese teams need to show a clearer role in the attack, even though Cao Pendant Quang Vinh and Truong Tien Anh are both playing well.

Vietnam team strengthens two wings

After 1 year of searching and testing with personnel from veteran to U.23, coach Kim Sang-sik has found the ideal winger for the Vietnam team.

That is Cao Pendant Quang Vinh on the left wing and Truong Tien Anh on the right wing. While Tien Anh has secured a starting position from March (after the AFF Cup 2024, he will take turns playing with Vu Van Thanh), Cao Pendant Quang Vinh also took a place in the June training session, as soon as he has citizenship.

In theory, this is an impressive wing duo, with strengths and weaknesses that offset each other so that Mr. Kim's 3-4-3 formation can operate stably.

Cao Pendant Quang Vinh (red shirt) has been a starter since joining the national team (June) until now.

PHOTO: INDEPENDENCE

Cao Pendant Quang Vinh brings good ability to stick and compete thanks to his "European standard" flexibility. The defender born in 1997 defends well and also supports the attack well when he often goes up to coordinate and pass to penetrate the penalty area. Quang Vinh crosses well, helping the left wing to be more versatile. On the right wing, Tien Anh has abundant physical strength, attacking and defending regularly at high intensity. The 26-year-old defender is often in the top group in Mr. Kim's physical tests. In addition, he is a good "crosser" with accurate crosses and crosses. Tien Anh has had 3 assists in the V-League since the beginning of the season, and 2 assists in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

With two strong and durable wingers, Mr. Kim has the key to operate the 3-center-back formation. The two wings are considered the "gateway" to operate the 3-4-3 formation, as former coach Park Hang-seo once mentioned.

Only when there are wingers with enough energy to "cover" the entire length of the field and support attacks effectively, can the Vietnamese team effectively operate a playing style that emphasizes balance and initiative, as coach Kim Sang-sik's philosophy has built.

However, there are still problems on both sides of Mr. Kim. On the left wing of Quang Vinh, the ability to coordinate with the attacking players needs to be more coordinated.

Quang Vinh is not completely in tune with his teammates.

PHOTO: DONG NGUYEN KHANG

In the 2 matches against Nepal, when Quang Vinh was free to push up and coordinate because the opponent fell too deep to defend, the player with mixed Vietnamese and French blood could not pass the ball smoothly, but often ran out of breath at the last beat, especially in the 2nd half.

However, that is understandable, because Quang Vinh has only had 3 training sessions, and 5 matches with his new teammates in the Vietnam national team. He needs time to adapt both to the culture and the playing style.

As for Tien Anh, the passes are more creative than the pure crosses. In the first leg against Nepal, Tien Anh crossed the ball to Tien Linh to score. But in the rematch, when the opponent blocked the right wing, the crosses from the defender born in 1999 were mostly neutralized.

Tien Anh is The Cong Viettel 's number one crosser, leading the assist list. However, the Vietnamese team does not have tall foreign players like the club. Except for Xuan Son, Vietnamese strikers need more diverse passes to take advantage of their strengths.

Tien Anh is the number one choice on the right wing.

PHOTO: MINH TU

Depth question

The two wings of the Vietnam team are also lacking backup plans.

On the left wing, Quang Vinh's backup is Khuat Van Khang. However, the player born in 2003 is temporarily away from the national team to play for U.23 Vietnam. Van Khang has 3 years of experience "eating national team food" and playing regularly at the club, but at the age of 22, this player needs more time to narrow the gap in skill level with his senior.

The remaining left winger is Nguyen Van Vi, who has been "planned" by Mr. Kim to play in the attacking line. Van Vi has been playing as an attacking midfielder since June.

The right wing is really worrying, when coach Kim Sang-sik admitted that there is no satisfactory backup plan for Tien Anh. Van Thanh is absent due to injury, Pham Xuan Manh is "pushed" into the center-back position, leaving Tien Anh as the only choice in the team. In this training session, Mr. Kim called Le Van Do to try out for the team. Van Do is playing well at the Hanoi Police Club, but between "good in V-League" and "main player in the national team" is a gap that very few players can fill.

Will Van Do create more breakthroughs for the right wing? Coach Kim needs time to answer.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thay-kim-len-phuong-an-nong-nhat-san-o-hai-canh-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-185251113204416848.htm