Indonesian newspaper: 'Good news for Vietnam team causes headache for coach Kim Sang Sik'

The Vietnam team got positive news before their second Group A game in the 2026 ASEAN Championship. Yet, this good news might trouble coach Kim Sang Sik, particularly when choosing the starting eleven.

According to Indonesian media, naturalized Brazilian striker Nguyen Tai Loc has returned to normal training after recovering from a calf muscle injury that kept him out of Vietnam's 7-0 win over Timor Leste.

The striker from Ninh Binh Club is now ready to play when Vietnam hosts Singapore at My Dinh Stadium on July 31.

During Tai Loc's absence, Nguyen Dinh Bac delivered an outstanding performance in the opening match. The young striker scored a hat-trick and provided an assist, playing a key role in the "Golden Star Warriors" landslide victory.

Tai Loc's return and Dinh Bac's excellent form give coach Kim Sang Sik a tough decision. Photo: VFF

That impressive performance earned Dinh Bac the Man of the Match award, while also increasing his chances of continuing in the starting lineup.

Nguyen Tai Loc's recovery is a positive sign for Vietnam, and it also gives coach Kim Sang Sik another quality option in attack.

The naturalized player, whose birth name is Geovane Magno, is highly regarded for his good individual technique and chance-creating ability.

However, coach Kim Sang Sik will have to consider whether to put Tai Loc back in the starting lineup from the beginning or continue to trust Dinh Bac, who is in very high form.

If Tai Loc is kept on the bench, his quality may not be fully utilized. Meanwhile, dropping Dinh Bac from the main lineup is also a risky decision after his brilliant performance in the opener, as assessed by Vietnamese media.

Another option is to deploy Tai Loc as an attacking midfielder to enhance creativity and attacking power for Vietnam.

However, this choice also comes with certain consequences because the midfield could become unbalanced if too many attack-minded players are used, especially as Singapore is considered to have a more organized style of play than Timor Leste.

As head coach, Mr. Kim Sang Sik will have to decide between Dinh Bac and Tai Loc for the starting forward position, based on the opponent, tactical intentions, and the physical condition of the two players.

The answer may come after two closed training sessions of the Vietnam national team on July 27 and 28.