Trial period is over, Mr. Kim Sang-sik!

The Vietnam team is still... testing.

Although the Vietnamese team did not beat India in the friendly match on October 12, overall, there are still details that coach Kim Sang-sik must be praised for. That is, despite the pressure to win to create a mental springboard, Mr. Kim still did not field the strongest lineup, but prioritized testing new elements.

Bui Vi Hao, To Van Vu, Chau Ngoc Quang, Le Pham Thanh Long, Nguyen Thai Son, Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Dinh Bac... may not have a starting position at the AFF Cup 2024. However, every player deserves to be given a chance.

Dinh Bac was given a chance in the Vietnam national team.

In the context of the Vietnamese team craving a new wind to restructure the force and stimulate motivation, opening the door to play for everyone is a suitable solution for coach Kim Sang-sik to revive the team that is teetering in the transition period.

Except for the June training session, when Mr. Kim had only been in the "hot seat" for 1 month and was forced to prioritize old factors, the Korean coach has been experimenting continuously for the past 2 months.

There have been some new recruits who have shown their potential. Vi Hao scored 3 goals in the last 2 matches, becoming a promising option to share the scoring duties with striker Nguyen Tien Linh. To Van Vu, in a rare match playing on the right wing, has left his mark with energy and enthusiasm. Or Van Khang, Dinh Bac are in the next generation of the Vietnam national team. Sooner or later, this group of players will step into the national team.

What better time than now, when some pillars are losing motivation and desire, requiring "young blood" to flow in to replenish?

The Vietnamese team does not have a clear playing style (though ideas and strategies have appeared), but this is still the patchwork and testing phase. Coach Kim Sang-sik has only had 3 training sessions, with about 28 to 30 days of direct training. The limited time does not allow the Korean coach to immediately change the Vietnamese team.

Wei Hao is Mr. Kim's new invention.

Even coach Park Hang-seo had previously debuted with the Vietnamese national team with a 0-0 draw against Afghanistan (ranked 152nd in the world). After nearly a year of training the U.23 and Olympic Vietnam teams, Mr. Park had just formed the human frame to mold the team to win the AFF Cup 2018.

"Rome wasn't built in a day." That's why coach Kim Sang-sik needs to be understood, given the pressure and expectations he's facing.

Coach Kim Sang-sik needs to be decisive

However, as the 2024 AFF Cup approaches, coach Kim Sang-sik needs to end the experiment.

Entering the actual tournament, when opponents like Thailand (who recently beat Syria and the Philippines in the 2024 King's Cup) or Indonesia (who drew with Australia and Saudi Arabia in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers) are making rapid progress, the Vietnamese team needs to seriously fight with everything they have. In short tournaments, against opponents who already know each other's playing style very well, any mistake will be very costly.

In parallel with 3 training sessions for testing, Mr. Kim Sang-sik had 6 months to "absorb" Vietnamese football in various aspects: evaluating the level and adaptability of players, assessing the potential of young players, and measuring the motivation and aspirations of key players.

Mr. Kim needs to filter out players who no longer have ambition.

After the turmoil in the Vietnamese team, coach Kim Sang-sik needs to quickly finalize the squad for the 2024 AFF Cup. Who is the optimal player for each position on the field, who is the strategic reserve (entering the field for a certain period of time to serve tactics), and who is the backup player.

The human resources strategy for the AFF Cup 2024 needs to be shaped right now. Because in November, the Vietnamese team will not have any more international friendly matches.

Mr. Kim and his colleagues are facing a mountain of work to solve, with problems exposed from defense to attack in recent friendly matches.

However, real gold is not afraid of fire. If coach Kim Sang-sik wants to prove his mettle, this is the most suitable opportunity.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-thoi-gian-thu-nghiem-het-roi-ong-kim-sang-sik-185241015090548833.htm