MR. KIM 'S CAUTION MAKES THE TEAM MORE STABLE
The Vietnamese team made a strong impression on fans when they defeated Myanmar 5-0 and won the top spot in Group B with an unbeaten record (3 wins, 1 draw). In particular, the newly naturalized player Nguyen Xuan Son had an excellent debut with 2 goals and 2 assists, creating great confidence in the attack that can penetrate any defense of teams in Southeast Asia.
The Vietnamese team will promote team spirit to win in Singapore.
Confidence and excitement are very good, bringing positive spiritual values. But it is not without reason that coach Kim Sang-sik constantly reminds his students that the collective spirit is the most important thing. Ahead of Vietnam is a new journey, a harsh knockout round with 2 semi-final matches against Singapore - also considered 2 final matches. The knockout match will force coach Kim Sang-sik to be cautious, first of all, he must protect the net and then calculate the attack options. The tactical plan will have to be adjusted because the opponent will certainly dissect the Vietnamese team very carefully. Therefore, the certainty of the whole team will be the top priority.
A united team
Coach Kim Sang-sik is likely to return to a 3-4-3 formation in attack, with a 5-4-1 variation in defence. Nguyen Xuan Son will play as the highest striker. This is not surprising as the Brazilian striker performed so well in his debut match for the national team. Xuan Son's abundant physical resources, strong pressing ability and confidence and calmness in the final steps are what make the difference. Crosses from Tien Anh - who played very well against Myanmar - and Van Vi from the wing will be exploited effectively. Rhythm is what the Vietnamese team needs to maintain in these knockout matches.
BREAKING THE "CURSE" OF ARTIFICIAL GRASS
The biggest challenge for the Vietnamese team will be the artificial turf of Jalan Besar Stadium, where Coach Park Hang-seo and his team were helpless and held to a 0-0 draw in the AFF Cup group stage two years ago. The characteristics of artificial turf (very different from natural grass) require Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team to have a smart approach.
Vietnam team practices on Jurong artificial turf field on December 24
The most recent lesson from the 1-1 draw with the Philippines on the artificial turf pitch of Rizal Memorial (Manila) in the group stage of the AFF Cup 2024 is still fresh. The Vietnamese team must play with focus and determination from the start. It is likely that the central defender trio Tien Dung - Thanh Chung - Xuan Manh will be the steel shield in front of the goal; the midfielder pair Hoang Duc - Ngoc Tan will be responsible for controlling the rhythm in the middle of the field.
Mr. Kim is considering whether to use Doan Ngoc Tan or let him rest to avoid a recurrence of injury and use Quang Hai from the start. Hai "son" is in very good form. The biggest question mark will be the winger position, when Van Toan is injured and has to leave the AFF Cup 2024 early. Hai Long will likely be used again on the right wing, thanks to his ability to hold the ball and is very smart when exploiting space. On the opposite wing, Vi Hao is excited after successfully "opening his account" with 1 goal and 1 assist against Myanmar.
Jalan Besar Stadium once witnessed Nam Dinh FC draw 3-3 with Tampines Rovers in the Asian Cup C2 (in which Van Vi started and Xuan Son scored). That experience will be very useful for Xuan Son and his teammates. Of course, in the match on December 26, Son will still play an important role, but Mr. Kim wants him to shine. In a few training sessions before the match, the coaching staff will come up with effective solutions to overcome the unfavorable playing conditions on the artificial turf, which causes a lot of energy loss.
Coach Kim Sang-sik has chosen suitable personnel, aiming for a team that is strong in terms of expertise and spirit. It can be seen that young player Vi Hao is being prioritized over senior Tuan Hai or Xuan Manh is the number 1 choice for the right center-back position, not captain Duy Manh. On the attack line, Tien Linh is cooperating and competing healthily with Xuan Son. All will create excitement for the team to always move forward strongly. Newcomer Xuan Son plays an important role but is only one piece of the puzzle. If maintaining the collective spirit and collective strength, the Vietnamese team will be able to break the curse and win the first leg of the AFF Cup semi-final, opening up opportunities in the second leg on December 29 at home.
XUAN SON AND HAI LONG RECEIVE GOOD NEWS
Ahead of the 2024 AFF Cup semi-finals, striker Xuan Son received good news when his goal to increase the score to 4-0 in the match against Myanmar was nominated for the best goal of the group stage. In addition, Hai Long's opening goal against Laos in the first match of the group stage was also nominated for this nomination.
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