Vietnam team vs Nepal: Coach Kim Sang Sik and a new move

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In theory, the match against Nepal at 7:30 pm tonight (October 9) is not a difficult test for the Vietnamese team. The opponent from South Asia is of a much lower level, with a squad that is also in the process of being rejuvenated and lacking in battle experience. Therefore, the initial plan of coach Kim Sang Sik seems very clear: to use this match as a rehearsal for the young players.

Coach Kim Sang Sik wants to use many young players for the match against Nepal. Photo: Huu Ha

This was clearly shown through the call-up list, where he called up a series of faces from the U23 team and gave them the opportunity to compete for positions with their seniors.

And the purpose is none other than to "train the army" and create conditions for young talents to accumulate experience, aiming for two important goals in the near future of U23 Vietnam: SEA Games and the U23 Asian Cup taking place early next year.

A win against Nepal, regardless of the lineup, is within reach. Therefore, prioritizing the long-term goal by letting young players play is a reasonable and necessary calculation.

And the problem is difficult to think about.

The initial plan was to harmoniously combine the experience of veterans and the youth of the next generation to build a deep force for the Vietnamese team in the future.

However, all calculations of coach Kim Sang Sik may have to change due to strong fluctuations in the group stage. The information that AFC is considering the possibility of losing Malaysia (due to fraudulent player records) in the first leg match with Vietnam team, opening the door to the 2027 Asian Cup Finals brighter than ever.

But now the Korean captain may have to reconsider, because the door to the Asian Cup is wide open. Photo: Huu Ha

The unexpected opportunity also came at the same time as the difficult problem for the Korean captain. If Vietnam went from losing 0-4 to winning against Malaysia, the return match at home would be decisive for the ticket to the next round.

At that time, the Vietnam team needed the strongest, most coordinated and most stable squad to compete with Malaysia again. Although this team lost 7 high-quality "illegally" naturalized players, coach Petr Cklamovski still had more than half of the squad with properly naturalized faces.

With such a strong force from the opponent, the Vietnamese team cannot be sure of victory without careful preparation right now. And this is the dilemma of coach Kim Sang Sik.

Continuing the experimental plan, giving the young players a chance in the match against Nepal to serve future goals, or prioritizing stability, using the strongest squad to "warm up" before the decisive match, is an issue that Mr. Kim Sang Sik must consider.

Between building for the future and seizing opportunities in the present, the Korean captain is facing an important decision that could affect the entire campaign not only for the Vietnamese team but also for the U23 Vietnam team.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tuyen-viet-nam-dau-nepal-hlv-kim-sang-sik-va-nuoc-co-moi-2450639.html