Versatile defense of Vietnam national team
The Vietnam national team summoned 5 central defenders for the training trip in Korea, including Do Duy Manh, Bui Tien Dung, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Bui Hoang Viet Anh and Nguyen Thanh Binh.
This is also the most comprehensive defensive framework of Vietnamese football at present, when the central defenders possess ideal physique, extensive experience and stable defensive skills. At the same time, central defenders like Viet Anh and Thanh Chung also possess a talent for scoring goals, spanning from the club to the national team.
Bui Hoang Viet Anh scored at the 2023 Asian Cup
Despite playing as a central defender, Viet Anh scored 5 goals in the V-League for the Hanoi Police Club (CAHN Club) last season. He ranked second in the team's domestic scoring list, behind only Nguyen Quang Hai.
Viet Anh's scoring instinct was awakened in the 2020 season, when he first moved to Hanoi FC (from Ha Tinh FC). The 1999-born central defender scored 4 goals in the 2020 V-League, then continued to "shoot" in the 2021 National Super Cup match, helping Hanoi defeat The Cong Viettel. In the 2022 National Cup, Viet Anh caused a shock with a goal from... the middle of the field in Hanoi's big win over CAND FC (now CAHN FC).
When he moved to CAHN Club, Viet Anh once again showed his talent for scoring goals, saving his team many times in difficult matches. In particular, his left-footed curling shot against SLNA last season demonstrated the technical qualities and bravery of the 25-year-old player.
Thanh Chung is also a lucky center back, with 9 goals for Hanoi FC. The player born in 1997 is good at aerial combat, and has scored many goals with his head in both V-League and U.23 Vietnam.
Thanh Chung (left) also has a knack for scoring goals.
Thanh Chung's ability to choose a position, jump and head the ball is so good that coach Chu Dinh Nghiem once promoted him to play as a striker. In response, the Hanoi team's central defender often plays at least an average level and has scored important goals. For example, in the 2019 season, Thanh Chung scored 4 goals in the V-League.
Forgotten Weapons
Besides Viet Anh and Thanh Chung, central defenders like Thanh Binh, Duy Manh, and Tien Dung can play the role of scoring goals when needed, thanks to their jumping power and header finishing skills that have been proven at the club.
The goal-scoring talent of defenders has helped the Vietnamese team find the net of many strong opponents. At the 2023 Asian Cup, 3 out of 4 goals Vietnam scored against Japan and Iraq had the mark of defenders: Viet Anh scored 1 goal, assisted 1 goal, and Thanh Binh also had 1 assist.
During Coach Park Hang-seo's tenure, Que Ngoc Hai scored two goals from the 11m mark in official tournaments (against Indonesia and Malaysia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers). He also had assists, typically the pass for Quang Hai to score against Malaysia in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, or the cross for Tien Linh to head against Thailand in the first leg of the 2022 AFF Cup final.
Vietnam team needs more attacking solutions
Center back Thanh Binh also scored a memorable goal against Japan in the second leg of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. Or when still wearing the national team jersey, Doan Van Hau and Nguyen Trong Hoang also played aggressively in attack with important goals and assists.
When the attack is locked down, the scoring chance from the defense will be the sharpest "knife" of coach Kim Sang-sik. However, under the Korean coach, Vietnamese defenders have not scored any goals, contributing very little to the attack.
Coach Kim Sang-sik needs to "unlock" this weapon to help the Vietnamese team strengthen at the AFF Cup 2024.
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