The responsibility rests on Hoang Duc's shoulders.

The backbone of the Vietnamese national team.

Since the second round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, Hoang Duc has consistently been a key player, contributing significantly to the Vietnamese national team. The clearest evidence of this is his two Vietnamese Golden Ball awards in 2021 and 2023. This time, in the 2024 AFF Cup, the role of the midfielder from Hai Duong will be even more crucial.

With Hung Dung no longer in the squad, Hoang Duc has become the most experienced central midfielder in the Vietnamese national team, having made 39 appearances. Based on his class, form, and experience, he is almost certain to secure a starting spot at the 2024 AFF Cup.

Hoang Duc has performed well under coach Kim Sang-sik and needs to maintain that form in the 2024 AFF Cup.

In their quest to reclaim the Southeast Asian crown, the Vietnamese national team needs Hoang Duc to shine. Previously, he partnered with experienced midfielders like Hung Dung and Tuan Anh. But now, he's surrounded by players like Van Truong, Hai Long, Thanh Long, Thai Son, and Doan Ngoc Tan – all relatively new faces.

Van Truong and Thai Son have been given opportunities by coach Kim Sang-sik to some extent, but they are still young players and haven't shown anything impressive yet. Ngoc Tan is making his first call-up to the national team, while Hai Long has recently been playing frequently on the wing for Hanoi FC. Thanh Long is a reliable name, second only to Hoang Duc, but this player also has some limitations in terms of physique and one-on-one tackling ability... These weaknesses were somewhat exposed in the 2023 Asian Cup and the second round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

Therefore, in addition to maintaining his own good form, Hoang Duc also has the task of "mentoring" his midfield partner. Only then can the Vietnamese national team effectively control the midfield, the key to victory.

Many might consider pairing Quang Hai with Hoang Duc in central midfield. However, such an arrangement would reduce Vietnam's attacking prowess in the midfield, which is extremely dangerous. Furthermore, Quang Hai performs better when operating closer to the opponent's penalty area.

Waiting for the connection between Hoang Duc and Tien Linh.

The "backbone" of the Vietnamese national team is gradually taking shape. In goal, coach Kim Sang-sik has Nguyen Filip. The central defenders could be Nguyen Thanh Binh, Nguyen Thanh Chung, or Bui Hoang Viet Anh. Further up the field are Hoang Duc and Tien Linh, who are also the two players currently in the best form for the Vietnamese national team.

In the V-League, Tien Linh scored 7 goals, provided 1 assist, and led the top scorer list. In the First Division, Hoang Duc had 2 goals, 2 assists, and numerous passes creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. This midfielder played a major role in Ninh Binh FC's conquest of the top spot in the league. Therefore, fans are hoping that Hoang Duc and Tien Linh will find a connection at the 2024 AFF Cup.

Hoang Duc and Tien Linh are both in excellent form.

It's highly likely these two players will play very close together, creating many opportunities for coordination. If coach Kim Sang-sik uses a 3-5-2 formation, Hoang Duc will most likely be positioned higher up the field, playing as an attacking midfielder behind the two strikers (Tien Linh and Vi Hao/another striker). If the South Korean strategist plays a 3-4-3 formation, Tien Linh might drop deeper to link up with the midfield, stretching the opponent's defense and creating space for the two fast wing forwards (possibly Tuan Hai, Van Toan, or Vi Hao) to surge forward.

Tien Linh and Hoang Duc may not directly "find each other," but they can still form a dangerous attacking triangle with another player. Remember Vietnam's 3-2 victory over the Philippines? Hoang Duc made a clever pass to Van Toan, who sprinted down the wing and crossed the ball to Tien Linh, who equalized 1-1. This could be an effective attacking option for the Vietnamese team in the upcoming tournament.

Tien Linh and Hoang Duc are very close friends off the field. They participated in the 2017 U.20 World Cup together, tasted glory at the SEA Games 30 and 31, and played side-by-side for the Vietnamese national team for the past few years. This close bond is essential for them to shine together on the pitch.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-trong-trach-dat-tren-vai-hoang-duc-18524112815310017.htm