All the midfielders are great, it's not easy to choose!

Coach Kim Sang-sik's star-studded squad

In the Vietnamese national team's training camp roster for March, coach Kim Sang-sik called up four central midfielders: Nguyen Hoang Duc, Doan Ngoc Tan, Nguyen Thai Son, and Vo Hoang Minh Khoa.

Among them, the duo Hoang Duc and Ngoc Tan played together at the 2024 AFF Cup, while Thai Son and Minh Khoa are young talents called up from the V-League.

Young midfielder Vo Hoang Minh Khoa (in purple shirt)

Moreover, Kim also has versatile players who can play in multiple positions and have previously managed the midfield, such as Khuất Văn Khang, Triệu Việt Hưng, and Nguyễn Quang Hải. With such a large number of midfielders, the Vietnamese national team has a midfield that combines strength and creativity, as well as youth and experience.

Hoang Duc only needs the final three matches of the 2024 AFF Cup to replicate his peak form from 2021-2022. The midfielder, born in 1998, retains his ability to shield the ball, escape pressure, control the tempo smoothly and gently, and maintain good control of the game even under pressure from opponents. Thanks to Hoang Duc, the balance between defense and attack of the Vietnamese national team remains stable in the difficult semi-final and final matches of the 2024 AFF Cup. He will still be a key player in the midfield, with tactical vision and a level of expertise that coach Kim Sang-sik has yet to find in other players.

To support Hoang Duc, coach Kim Sang-sik needed an energetic box-to-box midfielder capable of covering ground, intercepting passes, and moving tirelessly to ensure he could effectively control key areas in midfield. It took him six months to find Ngoc Tan, a player who was not initially on the preliminary list for the 2024 AFF Cup but was added at the last minute.

This was a correct decision by coach Kim Sang-sik. In his first tournament with the Vietnamese national team, Ngoc Tan played exceptionally well with his enduring energy, fueling the team's midfield "engine" to operate effectively.

However, Ngoc Tan is 31 years old and not a long-term solution. Therefore, Minh Khoa (23 years old) and Thai Son (22 years old) were summoned by Teacher Kim.

Thai Son (in the red shirt) previously played for the national team under coach Troussier.

Thai Son, at the age of 20, played for the Vietnamese national team thanks to the trust of coach Philippe Troussier. He also somewhat proved his ability with the perseverance and enthusiasm of youth. Although he could cover the entire field, Thai Son lacked the composure to choose the right position, his ball handling was uncertain, and he also lacked the mental stability for big matches. After two years of further training in the V-League (40 matches), Thai Son has returned more maturely, and this time it may be different.

As for Minh Khoa, the call-up to the national team is a reward for the efforts of the player who scored 5 goals in 62 matches for Binh Duong in the V-League. The midfielder, born in 2002, is a typical shuttle player, diligent, hardworking, and "multitasking," capable of handling many tasks in the midfield. Minh Khoa has a good long-range shot, decent short and long passes, and can also sweep up defenses when needed. Minh Khoa and Thai Son will be the present and future of the national team's midfield.

Why the midfield?

The presence of new faces in the midfield suggests that the Vietnamese national team's playing style can change.

In the 2024 AFF Cup, the Vietnamese national team played a relatively simple style, employing long balls and aerial passes, with a focus on speed and directness. This was because coach Kim Sang-sik had striker Nguyen Xuan Son who could overpower opponents and independently score goals.

Back then, the midfield didn't need creativity; they just needed to control the ball well and then pass it forward for Xuan Son to "do the rest".

For the next six months, coach Kim Sang-sik will be without Xuan Son. The direct and simple counter-attacking style of play will give way to a more control-oriented and dominant style. To play like that, the midfield needs to be the foundation for everything.

With seven central midfielders at his disposal, Coach Kim has all the ingredients to craft a fresh formula for ball control and attack. This energetic midfield will be the launching pad for the Vietnamese national team to showcase "new wine" in "old bottles".

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-co-tuyen-giua-cuc-chat-toan-tien-ve-gioi-khong-de-chon-185250310132100431.htm