Vietnam team lacks competitiveness
Coach Kim Sang-sik surprised everyone in the match between Vietnam and Cambodia on the evening of March 19, when he fielded the strongest squad, with key players who will lead the team to win the 2024 AFF Cup.
"There are currently no changes in the lineup, and the experienced players are also performing well," coach Kim Sang-sik affirmed.
There was only one position that was tested, that was Trieu Viet Hung in the role of left back. However, after only 27 minutes, Viet Hung left the field. The player born in 1997 left a few passes back, a failed cross, and a mistake in marking, allowing the opponent to easily escape and create opportunities.
Trieu Viet Hung (red shirt) was withdrawn after 27 minutes.
PHOTO: NGOC LINH
"Viet Hung did not perform as well as he did in practice," coach Kim Sang-sik briefly commented. He did not have much to say about his student. Viet Hung is 28 years old, it is difficult for him to get any better.
Like many other new recruits, Viet Hung was called up to serve the reform of coach Kim Sang-sik. The Vietnamese team won the AFF Cup 2024, but there are still two major problems. First, the team is too dependent on the ability of Nguyen Xuan Son, who will be absent for the next 6 months. Second, the Vietnamese team only plays well in defensive counter-attacking, instead of being able to impose the game and control the opponent.
Coach Kim Sang-sik needs new elements, or at least something new from the old ones. Regarding the first part, the Korean strategist decided to test Viet Hung and withdrew from the field as soon as his students did not meet the requirements. That was Mr. Kim's warning that he would be patient, but the wait was only for those who deserved it.
As for the second part, Mr. Kim could not be happy. When Van Vi entered the field, the Vietnamese team played with the strongest frame, only missing Xuan Son. That seemingly normal lack, in the end, became a barrier that made the Vietnamese team struggle.
Mr. Kim's students only controlled the rhythm of the game in the first half, with neat wing attacks and effective exploitation of the second line. However, in the second half, when Cambodia no longer defended but pressed forward to put pressure, the home team was flustered.
Ngoc Tan could not help the Vietnamese team maintain stability in midfield.
PHOTO: NGOC LINH
While coach Koji Gyotoku's Cambodia had smooth, sharp passing, especially from the moment naturalized striker Coulibaly entered the field, the Vietnamese team's coordination was disjointed. The most notable situations came from counter-attacks, rather than well-planned, purposeful attacks.
Without Xuan Son, the Vietnamese team lacks a striker who knows how to seize opportunities and dare to rush forward. Without Xuan Son, Mr. Kim also lacks a player with strong shoulders, who can make the opponent's defenders hesitate. If they play like this match, winning against Laos will not be a simple matter.
Waiting for new face
Friendly matches are not conclusive, but often serve as a warning.
For example, no one said Thailand was weak when coach Masatada Ishii and his team were held to a draw by Laos in a friendly match in November 2024. However, the Thai team's shortcomings, such as the ability to take advantage of opportunities or defensive discipline, were ultimately exploited by their opponents in the 2024 AFF Cup.
Coach Kim Sang-sik saw those "signals". He repeatedly expressed anger and worry when watching his players handle the ball. There were some things that were not perfect at the AFF Cup that could not be resolved overnight.
Using the strongest lineup against Cambodia also seems to be the intention of coach Kim Sang-sik. He wants to see how the pillars of the Vietnamese team will play after the championship, and whether they still have the desire and desire to change.
One match doesn’t say much, but when the Vietnamese team redraws the old picture, with the old shortcomings, where can the change come from? From the players for sure, because Mr. Kim’s requirements will be increasingly high, requiring the pillars to make efforts to keep up. Those who fail to meet the requirements will be pushed aside.
However, coach Kim probably needs to re-evaluate his forces. The people he has at the moment are just that. The core framework is not stable, the reserve factors are "bright and dark" erratic. Choosing a suitable playing style with the current people is a difficult problem, and the Vietnam team only has a few days to find the answer.
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