Vietnam Team: Coach Kim wants to tear Malaysia's net, wait for this factor!

Diversified attacking and finishing abilities are suitable tactics for the Vietnamese team to find a way into Malaysia's goal.

Who scored for the Vietnam team?

Coach Kim Sang-sik's first year leading the Vietnamese team can be divided into three periods. In each period, Mr. Kim found a key striker who could "shoot" regularly.

In the first 5 months, the responsibility was given to Nguyen Tien Linh. The striker born in 1997 was still the best striker when coach Kim Sang-sik took over the team. He scored a double in his debut match (a 3-2 win over the Philippines), then scored against Thailand. 3 goals in 5 matches helped Tien Linh win the trust of coach Kim.

Coach Kim Sang-sik is concerned about the Vietnamese team's attack.

PHOTO: THUY AN

When the Vietnamese team switched to playing at a higher intensity, requiring an all-round striker who could press, coordinate, finish or create a wall at the highest standards, Tien Linh no longer met the requirements. Nguyen Xuan Son appeared, scoring 7 goals in 5 matches in the AFF Cup 2024, winning the title of top scorer and best player of the tournament.

However, Xuan Son’s injury and Tien Linh’s form pose a difficult problem for coach Kim Sang-sik. One player can only return after at least 3 months, while the other has only scored 1 goal in the last 12 matches.

When the attack crisis comes, the Korean coach has two solutions. One, is to find a striker who is good at scoring goals to replace him.

Nguyen Cong Phuong was called up, but soon left the team due to injury. Pham Tuan Hai was also tested, however, it was no coincidence that Hai was absent for 6 out of 8 matches at the AFF Cup 2024. The player born in 1998 is only suitable for playing behind. He has never been the type of striker who is ready to stretch himself to receive every ball to convert into a goal.

The second solution is the path that coach Kim Sang-sik is taking: changing the playing style, finding other "firepower". The 7 goals in the last 2 matches against Laos and Cambodia were scored by 4 players, including Van Vi (3), Hai Long (2), Ngoc Quang (1) and Quang Hai (1).

Vietnam team has many "explosive points"

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

This statistic also shows the direction of the Vietnamese team's transformation. Instead of giving the ball to one individual to "do everything" like in the AFF Cup 2024, coach Kim's students have more tactics, from wing attacks, central attacks to counter-attacks.

There is no longer a player "hanging in a hammock" in the penalty area, but the whole team keeps a reasonable distance, moves forward together, coordinates passing and looking for space, so that when the opportunity comes, anyone can rush in to become the pioneer to score.

More transformation

The new way of operating makes the Vietnamese team harder to predict. Coach Kim Sang-sik does not "rigidly" assign the task of scoring to anyone, but distributes it equally to all factors.

During training sessions, he also teaches one-touch passing and finishing exercises at various distances such as close-range cushioning, second-line shooting, and diagonal shooting. The Korean coach encourages his players to be bold in finishing when they have the opportunity, instead of being too meticulous and perfectionist.

The maturity of left-back Nguyen Van Vi is an example. The player born in 1996 no longer sticks to the sidelines, but constantly moves to the center, moving to find space to swing his legs to finish. With the Vietnamese team, goals can come from anywhere, making it harder for opponents to predict.

On the two wings are Van Vi, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh penetrates well, in the middle line there are Hoang Duc, Duc Chien, Minh Khoa who can swing their legs to shoot from afar. In the midfield line, Hai Long is capable of creating breakthroughs thanks to his good shooting with both feet.

Duc Chien shoots well from long range.

PHOTO: THUY AN

In the context of Malaysia calling up many naturalized players, but most of them have never played together, the "Tigers" will face a loose playing style, especially in defense.

In the two friendly matches with Cape Verde (Malaysia drew 1-1 and lost 0-3), Malaysia's defense was continuously penetrated by the cohesion and versatility of the opponent ranked 72nd in the world .

The Malaysian team has many young, strong and powerful players in one-on-one combat. However, the ability to communicate and understand each other when maintaining a defensive distance is a minus point for coach Cklamovski and his team.

That is a weakness that the Vietnamese team can exploit. Unexpected "punches" from the midfield, the flanks, and even the defense with good attacking defenders will help coach Kim Sang-sik have a lot of firepower to tear the opponent's net.

Mr. Kim does not need a striker who is good at scoring goals, if the finishing is ready to be taken care of by other lines.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-thay-kim-muon-xe-luoi-malaysia-hay-cho-nhan-to-nay-185250607164242514.htm