Why was Tien Linh chosen?
Although he still plays quite regularly and is the second highest scorer for the Vietnamese team in the 2024 ASEAN Cup, Tien Linh has lost his starting position since the match against Indonesia in the group stage.
However, in the second leg of the final against Thailand, it is very likely that the striker from Hai Duong will return to the starting lineup and pair up with Xuan Son in attack.
Tien Linh will return to the starting lineup. Photo: SN
The reason for choosing Tien Linh is because coach Kim Sang Sik will let the Vietnamese team play with a 5-3-2 formation (or 3-5-2 when attacking) in order to maintain the 2-1 victory advantage in the first leg.
This is understandable, because the Korean captain certainly does not want his team to play defensively, but on the contrary, they still need strikers who can make Thailand wary, as well as handle counter-attack situations, so Tien Linh's experience and scoring ability are the choice.
And the remaining adjustments
With the advantage of winning the first leg, and at the same time Thailand showed their danger in their attacks, Mr. Kim Sang Sik will also reinforce the midfield, after accepting to play 2 strikers (with the condition of taking turns returning to support the defense from afar), namely Tien Linh and Xuan Son.
And will help the Vietnamese team win. Photo: SN
This is necessary, because if only Ngoc Tan and Hoang Duc are left to guard the front of the central defenders, it is certainly not enough, so Mr. Kim Sang Sik will likely send in another midfielder with the ability to sweep to block from afar.
In this position, only Thanh Long is left, but with this midfielder playing less since the beginning of the tournament, coach Kim Sang Sik will need to calculate further. Or it is not excluded that the Korean captain can push Thanh Chung to play as a midfielder, in the context of having an excess of central defenders...
Another position that Mr. Kim Sang Sik will change is on the right wing, when Tien Anh will likely start in place of Van Thanh before making adjustments on the field depending on the match's developments...
Expected lineup of Vietnam team: Dinh Trieu, Tien Anh, Duy Manh, Thanh Chung, Xuan Manh, Van Vi, Ngoc Tan, Thanh Long, Hoang Duc, Tien Linh, Xuan Son
Vietnamnet.vn
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/doi-hinh-viet-nam-dau-thai-lan-tien-linh-da-chinh-2360114.html
![[Photo] Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh chairs Government Conference with localities on economic growth](https://vstatic.vietnam.vn/vietnam/resource/IMAGE/2025/2/21/f34583484f2643a2a2b72168a0d64baa)
Comment (0)