Nguyen Tien Linh and his 11-match goalless streak: His position in the Vietnamese national team is severely shaken.
Striker Nguyen Tien Linh's form has hit rock bottom with 11 consecutive matches without scoring, posing a difficult challenge for coach Kim Sang-sik amidst the overall decline in the Vietnamese national team's attack.
Once an irreplaceable spearhead in the Vietnamese national team's attack, Nguyen Tien Linh is currently going through one of the darkest periods of his career. His move to Ho Chi Minh City Police FC for the 2025/2026 season was expected to open a new, explosive chapter for the striker born in 1997. However, reality is revealing a completely opposite scenario, where disappointment is growing with each passing match.
A nightmare at Thong Nhat Stadium.
The recent 1-0 victory against PVF CAND at Thong Nhat Stadium is the clearest evidence of this striker's decline. Under the direct observation of national team head coach Kim Sang-sik in the stands, Tien Linh had an incredibly ineffective performance. All the finishing skills that had once been his trademark seemed to have completely disappeared.
In the first half, Tien Linh missed a close-range tap-in while completely unmarked. At the start of the second half, bad luck continued when his dangerous header hit the post. The peak of his frustration came in the 86th minute, when the striker shot wide from an incredibly open position. These consecutive misses made him the target of ridicule and extended his goalless streak in the domestic league to 11 matches.
Psychological pressure and goal-scoring performance are alarming.
Since joining his new team, Tien Linh has only scored a meager 4 goals in all competitions. This is an extremely low number compared to expectations for a top national striker. Coach Le Huynh Duc explained that his weak finishing was due to significant psychological issues. The pressure to score goals and the expectations from fans are gradually draining the confidence of the striker born in 1997.
Tien Linh himself doesn't hide his frustration and admits that his form is at its lowest point. However, given the current personnel situation, the coaching staff still doesn't have many options. With Dinh Thanh Binh just returning from injury and Bui Van Binh still too inexperienced, Tien Linh is forced to start despite his alarmingly poor ball control.
Coach Kim Sang-sik's attacking dilemma
Tien Linh's crisis poses a difficult dilemma for coach Kim Sang-sik ahead of important campaigns in 2026. Although the chances of qualifying for the Asian Cup finals are looking bright thanks to changes in opponents like Malaysia, the attacking strength of the Vietnamese national team remains a big question mark as key strikers have all lost form.
In fact, the South Korean strategist has several other options at his disposal, but they all have their own problems:
- Xuan Son:He has only scored one goal in the V-League since his return and has consistently missed similar golden opportunities as Tien Linh.
- Tuan Hai:Currently on a streak of 4 consecutive matches without scoring.
- Hai Long:They're in slightly better form but have only scored their second goal of the season.
In the upcoming training camp, Tiến Linh will most likely still be given the opportunity to play for the national team based on his experience and existing class. However, if he cannot quickly overcome his goal drought and regain his killer instinct, it will be inevitable that he will have to give up his starting position to new players or accept a place on the bench.
