Vietnam's national team faces Bangladesh: Xuan Son and Hoang Hen recreate the lethal duo.

The emergence of Nguyen Xuan Son and Do Hoang Hen is opening up the prospect of an explosive attacking line under Kim Sang Sik. Given what Xuan Son has previously achieved, fans have reason to expect an "upgraded version" of the Vietnam national team.

It is no coincidence that fans are eagerly awaiting the combination of Nguyen Xuan Son and Do Hoang Hen on the Vietnam national team. Memories of the 2024 ASEAN Cup remain vivid: when Xuan Son completed his naturalization and immediately sparked excitement with his explosive form. At that time, many people had high hopes for Xuan Son, and this forward even exceeded expectations.

Now, the story seems to be repeating itself with Hoang Hen. This attacking midfielder is having a standout season with Hanoi FC, scoring 6 goals and providing 4 assists in 10 matches. This is an impressive performance in the V-League. But the noteworthy aspect is not just the numbers, but how Hoang Hen plays.

The 32-year-old player has a deep understanding of Vietnamese football (including language), plays versatilely, creatively, and with strong connectivity. Hoang Hen can play on the wing, as a supporting striker, or even drop deep to organize play, always ready to set up his teammates to shine.

This flexibility gives coach Kim Sang Sik more tactical options. If Xuan Son is the sharp goal-scoring spearhead, then Hoang Hen can become the "brain" behind him. Hen can provide penetrating passes, dangerous free kicks, and create breakthroughs behind Son. This is the type of combination the Vietnam national team desperately needs. Additionally, Hoang Hen's free kicks and crosses from the flank are always very dangerous.

In reality, these two players are not unfamiliar with each other. The duo Xuan Son-Hoang Hen was once a formidable pairing at their club, where Xuan Son scored 31 goals in the V-League 2023/24 (a V-League record), with many assists coming from Do Hoang Hen (who also scored 10 goals that season).

In the 2022 season, both played for Binh Dinh and scored a total of 12 goals for the Central region club. That synergy, if reproduced at the national team level, could become a "weapon" threatening any defense. Overall, Xuan Son and Hoang Hen have scored 103 goals in the V-League and 138 goals across all competitions since coming to play football in Vietnam.

Both have not only played for over 5 years in Vietnam, across several clubs, but also understand the language, culture, and working environment.

At present, Xuan Son continues to maintain impressive form. His recent goal in the National Cup that helped Nam Dinh advance to the semifinals carries not only professional significance but also shows his scoring instinct has not diminished. Amidst the Nam Dinh club facing the risk of a trophy-less season, the forward born in 1997 still demonstrates the qualities of a top star.

The emergence of Hoang Hen also creates a "domino effect" within the national team. Players once considered "default" selections like Tien Linh are now left out. Coach Kim Sang Sik's bold decision to exclude attacking stars indicates Hoang Hen's role in the upcoming national team will be significant. Due to his ability to play multiple positions, the Hanoi FC player is very likely to start to fully utilize his capabilities.

When Xuan Son and Hoang Hen are both present, the Vietnam national team's attack will become much more unpredictable. No longer reliant on a single individual, but featuring diverse, flexible, and highly creative coordination.

Of course, expectations always come with pressure. Not every combination succeeds immediately. Coach Kim Sang Sik will need time to experiment, adjust, and find the optimal formula to help new players integrate. But with the existing foundation, from past synergy to current form, the chance for this duo to shine is very high.

Looking further, the combination of Xuan Son and Hoang Hen also carries strategic significance. It shows Vietnamese football is effectively utilizing quality naturalized resources, combined with experienced domestic players and the maturing U23 youth.

Fans have reason to anticipate that the Xuan Son – Hoang Hen duo could contribute to creating a "storm" that sweeps away many opponents. Kim Sang Sik's team promises to be stronger and more appealing to fans.