Who will replace Xuan Son?
The biggest difference between the current Vietnamese team and 2 months ago is definitely the striker position. Nguyen Xuan Son with 7 goals and 2 assists after 4 matches completely outperformed the rest at the AFF Cup 2024. The absence of the striker born in 1997 left a huge void.
Nguyen Tien Linh is considered an obvious replacement. The current Vietnamese Golden Ball's form at the club is very good. He leads the scoring list in the V.League with 10 goals. Compared to Pham Tuan Hai, Bui Vi Hao and Dinh Thanh Binh, Tien Linh is clearly superior in terms of "output" efficiency.
Tien Linh is the best option to replace Xuan Son.
However, the problem of the Vietnamese team's attack is not just about scoring goals. The striker's ability to compete, keep the ball, and move... as well as the ability to coordinate, support, and create breakthroughs of the surrounding players are also very important.
Without Xuan Son - an "all-rounder" player, the Vietnamese team's system needs to be adjusted to balance and optimize the above factors. To take advantage of Tien Linh, a pure striker who moves and shoots, coach Kim Sang-sik needs to set up a different style of play.
Even, depending on the intention at each stage of the match, the Korean coach can put Tien Linh away and use Tuan Hai, Vi Hao or Thanh Binh. That is when the Vietnamese team prioritizes speed, the ability to "disrupt" and put pressure on the opponent.
What chance for new face?
Most of the players in the Vietnamese team in this training camp were once part of the 2024 AFF Cup championship. However, there are still 9 names that promise to bring a "new breeze" compared to the last tournament. With the friendly nature and facing a weak opponent, coach Kim Sang-sik can put these factors to the test.
Pham Ly Duc and Vo Hoang Minh Khoa are two new faces in the Vietnam national team. Ly Duc's chances of competing for a starting position are not high because he is still far behind his seniors. In the central defender position, coach Kim Sang-sik has many options, even if Bui Hoang Viet Anh is injured. The young player of HAGL can wait for the opportunity to enter the field at the end of the match, after the priority factors Nguyen Thanh Binh, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Bui Tien Dung, Do Duy Manh are used.
Thai Son returns to the Vietnam national team.
Minh Khoa is probably the most worth-watching new name. The Binh Duong midfielder has been playing steadily in his fourth V.League season. He will compete for a chance to play with Nguyen Thai Son - a player who has just returned to the Vietnam national team after being pushed down to the U22/U23 team. If they play well, both players - who are still very young - can completely compete for a starting position in the long term.
Tran Bao Toan and Trieu Viet Hung are experienced players who have been called up to the national team but are rarely used. In general, these players are only backup options, who can play in the first half of the match or enter the field in the second half.
The remaining three names are goalkeepers. Most likely, only one person from the group of Tran Trung Kien, Nguyen Van Viet and Trinh Xuan Hoang will be given a chance. In case Nguyen Dinh Trieu is not in the best condition and needs more rest, a new opportunity will open up for the reserve goalkeepers.
How many wins did the Vietnamese team win?
Even though it was just a friendly match, the score was not meaningless. The Vietnamese team played at home as the reigning Southeast Asian champions. The result may not be important, but coach Kim Sang-sik and his team needed to show their true status as the number one team in the region. A draw or loss to Cambodia at Binh Duong Stadium would be something that fans would find hard to accept.
The Vietnamese team is capable of winning, the question that fans are asking and waiting for the answer is what score is enough to satisfy. That is also a measure of the effectiveness of the home team's attack before the main match - against Laos on March 25 in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. In the first 5 matches under coach Kim Sang-sik, there were 4 matches in which the Vietnamese team did not score more than 1 goal against the opponent.
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/tuyen-viet-nam-dau-campuchia-3-cau-hoi-cho-hlv-kim-sang-sik-giai-dap-ar932527.html
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