Why did the Vietnamese team "transform" with Nguyen Xuan Son?

The Vietnamese team's attacks were unattractive and ineffective in the first three matches of the 2024 AFF Cup group stage. In the fourth match, coach Kim Sang-sik and his students received excited cheers from the stands at Viet Tri Stadium as well as praises all over social networks. The main difference was Nguyen Xuan Son.

Vietnam team beat Myanmar 5-0

In fact, the Vietnamese team still played like the first 3 matches. Although the midfield included Nguyen Hoang Duc and Nguyen Quang Hai, coach Kim Sang-sik's players still played long balls and high balls. Of the 5 goals scored by the Vietnamese team, 4 came after attacks originating from defenders' passes.

Coach Kim Sang-sik's players still failed to score in the first half. However, in the previous three matches, the problem was that they did not create enough chances and were not good enough (the most was 6 shots in the first half against Indonesia).

In the first half of the match against Myanmar, the Vietnamese team had... 12 shots. Coach Kim Sang-sik's players failed to score due to bad luck and lack of precision, not because of a deadlocked attack.

Nguyen Xuan Son makes life difficult for Myanmar defenders.

The basic attack is the same but the effectiveness is much higher than the previous matches. In addition to the low quality of Myanmar's defense, the appearance of Nguyen Xuan Son in the center forward position created a clear difference.

The statistics of 2 goals and 2 assists in the match at Viet Tri Stadium ( Phu Tho ) on the evening of December 21 do not fully reflect Xuan Son's contribution to the playing style of the Vietnamese team. The naturalized striker of Brazilian origin plays well as a target striker. He is an effective "ball-sucking" point, thanks to his superior physical strength compared to Myanmar's central defenders.

This striker had 48 touches of the ball. No striker of the Vietnamese team had more possession of the ball than Xuan Son in a match in the group stage. In 16 one-on-one duels with Myanmar players, Xuan Son won 11 times and from there opened up the next moves.

In addition to 8 shots (4 on target), striker number 12 also created 6 chances for his teammates (including 4 good chances). No player of the Vietnam team in the previous 3 matches created more chances than Xuan Son.

Coach Kim Sang-sik chose a playing style that suits Xuan Son even though he cannot use this striker yet.

It can be seen that coach Kim Sang-sik builds a playing style for the Vietnamese team that suits Xuan Son, even though this striker has not participated in the first 3 matches. The Korean coach continues to show his pragmatic view in aiming for short-term results.

Mr. Kim chose the simplest playing style based on what the players are familiar with at the club level. Watching the Vietnamese team compete in the group stage of the AFF Cup 2024, fans can see the shadow of the teams in the V.League.

V.League fans are familiar with the "let the West run" style of play. The Vietnamese team now has the conditions to play such football. Six months is certainly not enough time for coach Kim Sang-sik to build a style of play that requires complex formations, while most clubs in the V.League do not play like that.

The Vietnamese team does not need elaborate tactics with characteristics that are often analyzed by online fans such as creating small coordinated groups or overwhelming numbers... when the front line has Xuan Son. Xuan Son's teammates are too familiar and more than capable of doing a good job of supporting and bringing the ball to the right position of the striker.

The performance in the match against Myanmar, from the way he played to his effectiveness, proved that Xuan Son is the last piece that coach Kim Sang-sik is waiting for in the AFF Cup 2024. From the semi-finals, fans may see the Vietnamese team bring their V.League "specialties" to compete with their opponents.