Coach Kim Sang-sik drops Tien Linh from the squad: A bold revolution in the Vietnamese national team's attack.
The decision to drop top scorer Nguyen Tien Linh marks a turning point in coach Kim Sang-sik's philosophy, paving the way for new, more combative players.
In a decisive move to revitalize the Vietnamese national team, coach Kim Sang-sik has officially implemented a radical overhaul of the attacking line. The removal of key striker Nguyen Tien Linh is not just a simple personnel decision, but also a signal of a shift in tactical thinking: prioritizing directness, physical strength, and independent attacking capabilities.
The end of patience with Nguyen Tien Linh.
The most surprising decision in this training camp is the exclusion of Nguyen Tien Linh. The striker, who plays for Ho Chi Minh City Police FC, is going through the most severe slump in form of his career. Statistics show that Tien Linh has gone 12 consecutive matches without scoring in the past 6 months. Despite playing in 16 V-League matches this season, he has only managed a meager 3 goals.
Tien Linh's lack of sharpness and decisiveness in the penalty area is considered unsuitable for the new requirements. Coach Kim Sang-sik needs strikers who can operate independently and compete more aggressively to break down deep-lying defensive systems.
Gia Hung and Viet Cuong: Unusual "birds of aspiration" full of ambition.
To fill the void, the South Korean strategist placed his trust in the duo born in 2000: Pham Gia Hung (Ninh Binh) and Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong (Becamex Ho Chi Minh City). Although they have only scored 3 goals in 12 V-League matches, their influence on the team's overall play has impressed Coach Kim.
Pham Gia Hung is a modern striker with the ability to hold off defenders, create space, and move tirelessly. At Ninh Binh Club, Gia Hung often had to sacrifice himself to create space for his teammates. His ability to win one-on-one duels and his penetrating runs are exactly the piece that Coach Kim is looking for to support the naturalized star Nguyen Xuan Son.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong stands out with his diligent playing style and willingness to engage in direct physical challenges. The inclusion of this duo promises to help the Vietnamese team transition more quickly, instead of the cumbersome but ineffective ball-control style under his predecessor Philippe Troussier.
The challenge lies in securing a decisive victory before the Bangladesh test.
The friendly match against Bangladesh will be an opportunity for coach Kim Sang-sik to test the effectiveness of his new attacking lineup. Alarming statistics show that in the last three matches against weaker opponents, Vietnam only scored 6 goals despite controlling possession for over 70% of the time. The core problem lies in the lack of decisive attacking moves and sharp finishing ability.
With the combined strength of Gia Hung and Viet Cuong and the killer instinct of Xuan Son, the Vietnamese national team hopes to solve its goal-scoring problem. A new attacking system needs time to function smoothly, but this change is necessary to aim for higher goals in the future.
