Malaysian media highlights 3 key points about Vietnam national team

Malaysian media, specifically Makanbola, recently published a notable article about the upcoming rematch between Vietnam and Malaysia in the final round of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

In it, the newspaper headlined: “Vietnam ready to surprise in clash against Malaysia”, while also pointing out 3 crucial factors that could significantly influence the match scheduled for March 31 at Thien Truong Stadium (Nam Dinh).

Currently, coach Kim Sang-sik’s team stands second in Group F with 12 points, trailing Malaysia by 3 points. Since only the group winner qualifies directly for the 2027 Asian Cup finals in Saudi Arabia, the upcoming match is seen as an early “final” for both sides. Against this backdrop, Makanbola believes the Vietnam national team holds some notable advantages.

According to Malaysian media, the first factor that could make a difference is the comeback of naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son. Makanbola emphasizes: “The return of naturalized striker Nguyen Xuan Son promises a major boost for Vietnam’s squad. Previously, he missed the match against Malaysia last June due to a long-term injury.”

Not only Xuan Son, but Malaysian media also pay special attention to reinforcements in goal. The article states: “Furthermore, Vietnam, currently ranked 108th in the latest FIFA rankings, is likely to be strengthened by the naturalized newcomer Patrik Le Giang.”

This 32-year-old goalkeeper has completed citizenship procedures after five years playing in the V-League. With his experience and ideal physique, Patrik Le Giang is expected to increase competition for the goalkeeper position. In a crucial match, defensive solidity can be decisive.

Apart from personnel factors, Makanbola also compares the recent form of both teams: “In terms of form, Vietnam has won 4 of their last 5 matches, while Malaysia, under coach Peter Cklamovski, has won all 3 of their recent games.”

The match between Malaysia and Vietnam is scheduled to take place at Thien Truong Stadium (Nam Dinh) on March 31, 2026.