Vietnam U22 started slowly but became more confident as the tournament progressed.

Coach Kim Sang-sik continues to demonstrate his ability to read the game and develop sound tactics against different opponents (photo by Huu Pham).

The progress of Dinh Bac

Striker Dinh Bac was clearly the most impressive name in the group stage for the Vietnam U22 team. In the opening match, he scored both goals in the 2-1 victory against Laos U22. In the match against Malaysia U22, Dinh Bac made his mark by assisting both of Vietnam U22's goals.

Those were all situations where the ball went down the opponent's flank, and Dinh Bac showed excellent speed, technique, and sharp tactical vision. Compared to the two tournaments the Vietnam U22 team participated in this year, namely the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship and the 2026 Asian U23 Championship Qualifiers, Dinh Bac has changed significantly.

Dinh Bac is maturing while playing for the Vietnam U22 team (photo by Huu Pham).

He handled the ball neatly and was more of a team player, with almost no unnecessary movements when creating scoring opportunities for his teammates. This was a "stroke of luck" for the Vietnam U22 team and coach Kim Sang-sik because, despite his potential, Dinh Bac was still considered to lack a bit of discipline and composure to become truly outstanding.

Dinh Bac's brilliance came at a very opportune moment, as the U22 Vietnam team was just entering its "warm-up" phase, and the entire system wasn't yet fully functioning. This was an important stepping stone for the players to adapt to the pace of the SEA Games, which is full of pressure.

Slow start, but gets stronger the more they play.

The two goals came very early for Vietnam U22 in their match against Malaysia U22. This was a significant difference, as previously, Vietnam U22 had often missed many opportunities created. This was considered a weakness of the team led by coach Kim Sang-sik.

The victory against U22 Malaysia also eased concerns for U22 Vietnam after their less-than-impressive performance against U22 Laos. It seemed to repeat an old "habit" of U22 Vietnam: starting slowly but becoming more solid and effective as the game progressed.

The U22 Vietnam team plays without flashy moves but is always effective when needed (photo by Huu Pham).

Teams coached by Kim Sang-sik are usually unpretentious, but always on the right track. At the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, the Vietnam U22 team also had a rather shaky start but then went on to win the championship.

Another advantage of the Vietnam U22 team is the diverse scoring ability of players in different positions. The U22 Vietnam attack boasts many prominent names such as Khuất Văn Khang, Viktor Lê, Đình Bắc... but when needed, other players are also ready to shine. This could be Phạm Lý Đức, Công Phương, or yesterday, Hiểu Minh and Minh Phúc. This makes it difficult for opponents to defend against the Vietnam U22 team.

Ahead lies a challenging journey towards the SEA Games 33 gold medal. However, it's safe to say that if they maintain their focus and fighting spirit, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team can absolutely achieve something remarkable.

Watch SEA Games 33, stand alongside the Vietnamese Sports Delegation, in its entirety onFPT Play, at: http://fptplay.vn

Source: https://tienphong.vn/u22-viet-nam-khoi-dong-cham-nhung-cang-vao-sau-cang-chac-chan-post1803902.tpo