Vietnam National Team's Perfect 'Run-Up'

At Hang Day Stadium, the Vietnam national team easily defeated Bangladesh. However, behind that overwhelming victory were not just the early goals, but also the perfect run-up orchestrated by coach Kim Sang Sik and his team for the final match against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Goals from Tuan Hai (8'), Xuan Manh (18'), and Hai Long (38') decided the match early in the first half. It was a 45-minute period where the Vietnam national team demonstrated comprehensive superiority in ball control, imposing their game plan, and utilizing opportunities almost perfectly. However, what is even more noteworthy lies in the way the lineup was arranged, with choices that brought many surprises.

The fact that central defender Ngoc Bao started, Van Vi held the left flank, while familiar names like Van Hau or Jason Quang Vinh were substitutes shows that coach Kim Sang Sik was not simply seeking victory. He was experimenting. And that experiment was not risky, because the world-ranked 180th team was not capable of applying significant pressure on Vietnam's defensive system.

From the very first minutes, Vietnam's right flank became the main attacking direction. The mobility of Xuan Manh, Tien Anh, and Hai Long created continuous pressure. The opening goal came from a set-piece situation, but clearly reflected their organizational dominance. The second goal, scored by Xuan Manh, showed his scoring knack and demonstrated the effectiveness of their "dead-ball" options. This is a weapon that is clearly improving for the Vietnam national team.

The highlight of the first half was Hai Long's goal, where he soloed from midfield before finishing coolly. That was not just a beautiful goal, but also a sign of the scoring knack of the Hanoi FC player in coach Kim Sang Sik's lineup. Every time he plays for the national team, Hai Long leaves an impression, and the Korean coach trusts him immensely. In the friendly match against Bangladesh, Hai Long was assigned to play as both a winger and a right defender for coach Kim Sang Sik to further evaluate.

If the first half was a story of smoothness, the second half carried a clearer experimental tone. Coach Kim Sang Sik introduced Xuan Son, Van Hau, Thanh Long... onto the field, and also adjusted the midfield by pairing Hoang Hen with Thanh Long instead of Quang Hai – Hoang Duc. This change caused the national team's rhythm to slow down, lacking the coherent connection seen earlier.

Although they still controlled the game, Vietnam could not maintain their sharpness. Xuan Son played energetically but lacked ball sense, while a series of opportunities were unfortunately missed. One positive point regarding spirit was Hoang Hen, who had a full-effort match but lacked luck when the ball found the post late in the game. Gia Hung also did not have fortune with his shot hitting the crossbar following Xuan Son's assist.

The positive aspect was that even though their play slowed down, Vietnam maintained a safe game situation. Goalkeeper Van Lam hardly had to work much, except for a few rare situations from the opponent, notably Choudhury's late run which was timely neutralized by Van Hau.

The 3-0 victory not only helped Vietnam accumulate more FIFA ranking points, but also extended the unbeaten streak of coach Kim Sang Sik and his team. This is an impressive streak dating back to late 2024. During that streak, the national team won the ASEAN Cup and secured a spot in the 2027 Asian Cup, showing significant stability under the Korean coach.

However, the match against Bangladesh also revealed several points. The attacking efficiency in the first half was a highlight, but the lack of sharpness in the second half shows the team still needs to improve its ability to maintain rhythm and utilize opportunities when personnel changes occur. Experiments are necessary, but to aim for major tournaments, stability must be prioritized.

On an individual level, Hai Long and Xuan Manh were clear standout performers, while Hoang Hen left many positive signals regarding fighting spirit. The trio of Hanoi FC players are prominent names in the Vietnam national team.

The victory over Bangladesh is a run-up, a lineup test to prepare for welcoming Malaysia on March 31st. Coach Kim Sang Sik is helping his players get excited to face the challenge of "The Tigers" at Thien Truong Stadium and promises even more surprising tactics that day.