Vietnam National Team: When Cong Phuong is expected to be the key...

Coach Kim Sang Sik is having a headache as the Vietnamese team's attack has not reached its most stable form. Will Cong Phuong be able to create a breakthrough for the front line in this return?

The attack… lost its fire

Although he was once the top scorer in the V-League 2024/25, Tien Linh has been completely quiet in the last 5 matches. Binh Duong 's main striker even sat out the match before joining the Vietnam national team for health reasons.

Meanwhile, Tuan Hai - who was once highly expected under coach Kim Sang Sik - has only just found himself at the end of the season, so it is not easy to expect him to shine in the match against Malaysia.

Another striker called up this time is Dinh Thanh Binh, although expected, but in reality is not strong enough to shoulder the responsibility of scoring in big matches, and is also a bit out of sync when given the chance to play.

The main strikers of the Vietnamese team are having problems.

All depends on Cong Phuong

Faced with this situation, Cong Phuong's return is seen as a lifesaver for the Vietnamese team in the very important match against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

After a disappointing time in Japan, the Nghe An striker has strongly revived at Binh Phuoc Club. Cong Phuong has continuously scored and assisted, directly participating in 12 of the 27 goals of the First Division team.

In particular, the most veteran striker on the Vietnamese national team's attack line is showing his versatility when he can score from set pieces, as well as act as a creator to help his teammates score.

Making Cong Phuong the greatest hope of coach Kim Sang Sik

More importantly, Cong Phuong is in his best physical and mental condition this time around. At the age of 30, the Nghe An striker brings experience, courage and the ability to make a difference that few teammates on the Vietnamese national team's attack line possess.

Concerns about adapting to the new coach are probably not too big, because with his experience and ability, Cong Phuong can easily integrate, like the way this striker returned and scored for the Vietnamese national team under Mr. Troussier, for example.

Against a Malaysia team that has become stronger thanks to a squad of quality naturalized players, Cong Phuong's cunning and ability to make a difference could be the key to helping Vietnam overcome their biggest opponent in the Asian Cup qualifiers at Bukit Jalil.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tuyen-viet-nam-khi-cong-phuong-duoc-trong-cho-la-chia-khoa-2406889.html