Crowded midfield
The familiar formation of the Vietnamese team's midfield under coach Kim Sang-sik is to arrange 2 central midfielders, but 1 of these 2 midfielders will be Nguyen Hoang Duc, a player who plays more technically and is responsible for regulating the team's play. The remaining central midfielder, playing next to Hoang Duc, will therefore play the role of a defensive midfielder, tasked with competing for the ball with opposing players and defending from a distance for the team.
Doan Ngoc Tan (25) is no longer alone in the defensive midfielder position.
At the AFF Cup 2024, Doan Ngoc Tan played this defensive midfielder role. He played very successfully and effectively in the disputes. However, at the same time as the AFF Cup 2024, Doan Ngoc Tan was almost the only defensive midfielder on the list of the Vietnamese team. Fortunately, this player was not injured or suspended in the team's important matches, so Ngoc Tan contributed regularly to the team throughout the tournament.
However, coach Kim Sang-sik saw the "thin" situation in the above position. Therefore, in the list of the Vietnamese team preparing for the matches of FIFA Days in March (against Cambodia on March 19 and against Laos on March 25), the Korean coach called up 4 players who are capable of playing in the defensive midfielder position, including Doan Ngoc Tan, Nguyen Thai Son, Trieu Viet Hung and Tran Bao Toan.
High inheritance in the team
These players are all physically strong and good at competing. The important thing is that each of them tends to play for the stars next to them, ready to play aggressively to win the ball back from the opponent, then gently pass the ball to the home team's organizing midfielder, who is standing closest to them. This is what coach Kim Sang-sik needs. He already has many artists in the midfield, such as Hoang Duc, Quang Hai, Minh Khoa, Hai Long, now he needs more "athletes" to balance between technical quality and muscle.
Midfielder Thai Son returns to the national team
The more players who can play in the defensive midfield position, the higher the competitiveness of the Vietnamese team in this position. At the same time, from now on, coach Kim Sang-sik can rest assured that there will be personnel ready to replace Doan Ngoc Tan when needed, in case this player unfortunately plays below his potential, gets injured or receives a penalty card.
The important thing is that Trieu Viet Hung (28 years old), Tran Bao Toan (25 years old) and Nguyen Thai Son (22 years old) all have long-term value, and can serve the Vietnamese team throughout the journey of the 2027 Asian Cup (from the qualifying round to the final round, if the Vietnamese team is present in the final round) and the 2030 World Cup qualifying campaign (starting in 2028), if they prove their ability.
That is also how coach Kim Sang-sik builds a successor force for the Vietnam team. Former VFF Vice President Duong Vu Lam commented on this: "The inheritance and continuity of the Vietnam team's force lies in the fact that the current framework will still be experienced players who were successful at the AFF Cup 2024. However, the Vietnam team still has young faces. Experienced players, senior players will guide younger players, helping the young players gradually accumulate experience and mature. Then, when the senior players retire due to age in the next few years, the Vietnam team will immediately have a new generation of players ready to replace them."
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/canh-tranh-khoc-liet-o-vi-tri-kho-nhat-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-doan-ngoc-tan-dau-ai-185250308132730407.htm
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