Final qualifying round of Asian Cup 2027: Who will replace Bui Tien Dung and Hoang Duc?

The Vietnamese team needs to be refreshed to play better in the return match against Nepal in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup on October 14 at Thong Nhat Stadium (HCMC). Especially when the key players are not in the best physical condition.

The Vietnamese team practices in preparation for the rematch with Nepal - Photo: NK

"After the first leg, we can clearly see how the Vietnamese team needs to change. I think the first thing is that the team must use more hungry players in defense, then make adjustments in other areas," commented commentator Ngo Quang Tung.

Change for the better

In this training session, central defender Bui Tien Dung was not in the best physical condition. He was absent from the first training sessions of the Vietnamese team due to injury.

And when he had just returned to practice for two sessions, coach Kim Sang Sik arranged for him to start in the first leg of the 3-1 win over Nepal at Go Dau Stadium on October 9. But the 30-year-old midfielder only played one half, and then was absent from the return practice session on October 11, even though the whole team had a full day off to recover after the match.

In the first leg against Nepal, coach Kim Sang Sik deployed an aging defense. Apart from Bui Tien Dung, the other two central defenders are Duy Manh and Pham Xuan Manh, both 29 years old. In addition, goalkeeper Dang Van Lam is 32 years old. Using the strongest strikers is understandable when the Vietnamese team needs to score to win.

But not using any U23 players in defense is an overly cautious move by the Korean coach. While in reality, that experienced defense did not play as well as expected, even making mistakes.

Therefore, Bui Tien Dung's poor physical condition at this time is an opportunity for coach Kim Sang Sik to at least make a change in the defense. Mr. Kim has many alternatives for the left-sided center-back position such as Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, Nhat Minh, Nguyen Van Vi as used in the second half of the first leg against Nepal.

Among them, U23 central defender Nhat Minh is the best choice, not only to create youthfulness for the defense that is no longer at its peak and lacks ambition of the Vietnamese team, but also to prepare for the 33rd SEA Games at the end of the year. Nhat Minh's ability to join the attack is also quite impressive, as shown at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship.

Hoang Duc is not in the best form - Photo: TTO

Breakthrough for the midfield?

Hoang Duc is the number 1 central midfielder under coach Kim Sang Sik. But in the first leg against Nepal, he also did not play very impressively. Although he did not encounter any major problems, Hoang Duc also stayed at the hotel and did not go to the training ground with the Vietnamese team on October 11. So this is an opportunity for Mr. Kim to consider using a new pair of central midfielders for the second leg against Nepal to create better attacking power from the midfield.

At Go Dau Stadium, Hoang Duc and Le Pham Thanh Long started. When Thanh Long left the field in the 84th minute, the Vietnamese team's midfield brightened up a bit with a long-range shot that almost scored from substitute midfielder Duc Chien. And that could be a hint for coach Kim Sang Sik for the rematch. Hoang Duc - Duc Chien is the number 1 choice.

But Duc Chien - Xuan Bac is also a notable choice to prepare for the future. Xuan Bac has played outstandingly in the U23 team, and now is the time for him to have a chance to mature more in the national team.

Nepal will certainly continue to play a defensive counter-attacking game like the first leg, which made it difficult for Vietnam with its monotonous style of play - pouring balls from the wings into the penalty area. Having all players on the field instead of being down for the entire second half in the first leg will help the South Asian team achieve their goal of getting points.

Therefore, the Vietnamese team needs to play well from midfield to "open up" Nepal's defense, helping the strikers score.

The first leg match has helped coach Kim Sang Sik understand Nepal better to have a reasonable personnel arrangement and playing style for the return match with Nepal. Hopefully, the Vietnam team will not disappoint the fans in the South.

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NGUYEN KHOI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vong-loai-cuoi-asian-cup-2027-ai-thay-bui-tien-dung-va-hoang-duc-20251013102502099.htm