Coach Kim Sang Sik unexpectedly left Xuan Son on the bench against Laos

Nguyen Xuan Son is unlikely to start in the match between Vietnam and Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, despite having recovered from his injury and returned to full training. The clearest sign: he was not in the group arranged to start in both recent team-sharing sessions.

Signs from tactical training sessions

According to the records from the most recent training sessions, when the coaching staff divided the team into two competing teams at Viet Tri Stadium and the most recent training session in Vientiane, Xuan Son was not in the group considered to be the main squad. This is an important basis for the possibility that he will start on the bench.

Maintaining a familiar squad structure before an official match helps the team optimize their coordination, especially in the midfield – an area that requires a constant playing tempo and high connection between positions.

Be cautious with people who have just returned.

Xuan Son has just been recalled after nearly a year of treatment to completely cure his injury. Although the Brazilian-born player has confirmed that he is ready to play at a high intensity, the coaching staff's cautious approach to reduce the risk of re-injury is understandable in the context that the team was not forced to take risks from the beginning.

The immediate priority may be those options that have maintained a good competitive feel over time, thereby keeping a stable operating rhythm in midfield.

Option to use: enter the field from the second half

The reasonable scenario is that Xuan Son will enter the field in the second half depending on the situation. This is the right time to control the volume of movement, while exploiting his ability to make a difference in the context of the game that has been shaped.

Adjusting midfield personnel in the second half also opened up more flexible tactical options for coach Kim Sang Sik, from increasing ball control to reinforcing transitions, depending on the requirements of the match.

Match background and preparation plan

The Vietnam national team will have their final training session today (November 17) to complete the final steps before facing the Laos national team on the evening of November 19. The goal is to win all three points, while ensuring the best physical and mental condition for both the starting team and strategic reserve options such as Xuan Son.

Key Points

• Xuan Son has recovered but was not in the starting group in the two team division sessions in Viet Tri and Vientiane.
• The coaching staff tends to be cautious, prioritizing the midfield frame that is maintaining the rhythm of the match.
• Most likely scenario: Xuan Son is on the bench and could be brought onto the field in the second half, depending on developments.
• The match between Vietnam and Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers will take place on the evening of November 19; the team will have their last training session on November 17.