Vietnam National Team: Concerns for Kim Sang Sik as the V-League hasn't yet found its rhythm.

Coach Kim Sang Sik will not easily have his strongest squad available when the Vietnamese national team faces Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers at the end of March because the V-League has not yet reached its peak.

V-League hasn't hit its stride yet.

After a break of over 80 days to make way for the Vietnam U23 team to conquer regional and continental competitions, the LPBank V-League 2025/26 returned with rounds 12 and 13, much to the anticipation of fans. However, just as the passion for football was being rekindled, Vietnam's top football league was suspended again…

According to the schedule, after the two aforementioned rounds, the V-League would take another break of nearly three weeks before rounds 14 and 15 took place at the end of February. But even before the season could fully resume, the league was interrupted again by FIFA Days, making way for the Vietnamese national team's training camp, causing the V-League to take another break of about two weeks.

The V-League 2025/26 season has been interrupted for various reasons.

Overall, the rhythm of this V-League season has followed a pattern: a few rounds played, then a break, and just as things get going, they have to stop. For clubs, especially those with limited squad depth, maintaining consistent performance is an extremely difficult task. For players, the feeling of playing is fragmented, making it difficult to reach peak form.

Of course, it's hard to blame the organizing committee, because simply put, this is something no one wants, when sacrifices and sharing are necessary for the common goals of Vietnamese football. However, from a purely professional standpoint, the frequent interruptions clearly have a significant impact on clubs and players who need continuity to maintain their form, or, more importantly, on their financial management.

I'm worried about Mr. Kim Sang Sik.

Long breaks, ultimately, always have two sides. For weak or unstable teams, the break is an opportunity to adjust, restructure their playing style, or even change personnel. But for teams that are in good form, being constantly "slowed down" is a different story.

Ninh Binh is a prime example. This team had led the league table for most of the season before the V-League took a break. However, when the league resumed, they unexpectedly lost two consecutive matches, losing the advantage and momentum they had built up earlier.

How will coach Kim Sang Sik handle the issue of his players' form?

For coach Kim Sang Sik, the worries are even greater. The match against Malaysia at the end of March is crucial for the Vietnamese national team, and the South Korean strategist needs players who are in top form and most consistent. But with the V-League frequently interrupted, it's difficult for players to maintain their peak performance, let alone reach their peak form.

Furthermore, the intermittent pace of play makes players prone to fatigue, injury, and tactical synchronization. This is especially dangerous for key players who have to shoulder responsibilities at their clubs while also representing the hopes of the Vietnamese national team.

And when the players' form is affected, the pressure ahead of the match against Malaysia will certainly weigh more heavily on the shoulders of the Vietnamese national team's head coach, even though there will be new personnel options in the form of newly naturalized players.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tuyen-viet-nam-lo-cho-ong-kim-sang-sik-khi-v-league-chua-mat-ga-2489929.html