U.23 Vietnam with an extremely good defense… attacks

Physical advantage of U.23 Vietnam

In the list of 26 U.23 Vietnam players announced by coach Kim Sang-sik on the afternoon of November 6, there are 8 defenders, including Vo Anh Quan, Nguyen Hieu Minh, Le Van Ha, Dang Tuan Phong, Pham Ly Duc, Nguyen Duc Anh, Dinh Quang Kiet and Nguyen Nhat Minh.

Center back Hieu Minh (4) has the ability to participate in attacks very well.

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

Among them, Vo Anh Quan and Nguyen Duc Anh are fullbacks, the rest are good at playing as center backs. Among them, Dinh Quang Kiet (1.96 m), Nguyen Hieu Minh (1.84 m), Le Van Ha (1.84 m), Pham Ly Duc (1.82 m) are those with physical advantages, with the ability to participate in attacks very well.

At the 2025 Southeast Asian U.23 tournament in July, Nguyen Hieu Minh scored 2 goals for U.23 Vietnam, becoming one of the 2 people who scored the most goals for us in this tournament, equal to the achievement of striker Nguyen Dinh Bac. Pham Ly Duc scored 1 goal at the aforementioned Southeast Asian U.23 tournament.

Then, in the match between Vietnam and Nepal in the 3rd qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup on October 14, Nguyen Hieu Minh was the one who headed the ball into the Nepalese defender before it went into the net, helping Vietnam score the only goal. This reflects that the fact that center-back Nguyen Hieu Minh scored when he joined the attack was not a coincidence. The goals with the contribution of this center-back were repeated, reflecting that he was very dangerous in aerial battles in set pieces, when Hieu Minh stood in the opponent's penalty area.

Surprise plan

As for Le Van Ha, this player did not score a goal for the U.23 Vietnam team in the recent international tournaments, the reason is because Le Van Ha rarely played as a starter. However, with a height of up to 1.84 m, Le Van Ha is still very dangerous when joining the attack, every time he is put on the field from the bench.

Coach Kim Sang-sik will have more plans for U.23 Vietnam

Photo: Independence

The same situation can also come from the "giant" center back Dinh Quang Kiet. With a height of up to 1.96 m, the center back currently playing for HAGL Club has an almost absolute advantage over players in Southeast Asia in aerial battles.

Like Le Van Ha, at the present stage, Dinh Quang Kiet is unlikely to have an official place in the U.23 Vietnam team. However, in specific situations, in some specific matches, Coach Kim Sang-sik is likely to use Dinh Quang Kiet as a surprise attack option for the opponent in the final stages of some matches.

For example, when the U.23 Vietnam team is stuck in attack, when the opponent defends heavily on the home field, coach Kim Sang-sik can push Dinh Quanh Kiet straight up to the striker line, appearing constantly in the opponent's penalty area, with the task of receiving high balls.

At that time, U.23 Vietnam will be able to have a new plan, possibly creating a surprise, because the plan to use Dinh Quang Kiet to play as a striker will not be in the defense plan of the opponents we will face at SEA Games 33 , taking place in December this year.