Vietnam U22 will be without Dinh Bac and Minh Phuc for their opening match.
Dinh Bac and Minh Phuc missed the opening match against U22 Laos because they were participating in the 2025 Southeast Asian Club Championship with Hanoi Police; coach Kim Sang Sik had to rotate the squad.
The Vietnam U22 team will be without striker Nguyen Dinh Bac and midfielder Pham Minh Phuc in their opening match of the SEA Games 33 against Laos U22 on December 4th. Both are currently playing for Hanoi Police FC in the 2025 Southeast Asian Club Championship and can only join the team on December 4th, meaning they will miss the opening match. Coach Kim Sang Sik was forced to make urgent personnel adjustments right before kick-off.
A personnel shortfall right before the crucial moment.
The absence of these two key players is further exacerbated by the fact that the Vietnam U22 team had already lost midfielder Nguyen Van Truong due to a knee ligament injury sustained at the Panda Cup 2025. This is a long-term loss, forcing the coaching staff to consider rotation options and give opportunities to reserve players.
In terms of personnel, Dinh Bac is a crucial attacking option up front, while Minh Phuc adds link-up play in midfield. Without them, the opening day's game structure will likely prioritize solidity and tempo control from their replacements.
Tactical impact: changes in attack tempo and tactical options.
In a short tournament like the SEA Games, every set piece and transitional play can decide the outcome. Without a familiar striker like Dinh Bac, the U22 Vietnam team may need to increase their movement on the flanks, accumulating players in the penalty area from the second line to compensate for the lack of presence in the center. At the same time, the absence of Minh Phuc will place clearer demands on the midfield in terms of ball distribution and covering in front of the defense.
The coaching staff has prepared rotation options throughout training, thus opening opportunities for substitutes to maintain pressing intensity and balance during transitions. In the context of a shortage of players, tactical discipline and efficiency in the final stages – from finishing to set pieces – become key, rather than the number of chances created.
Schedule and opponents in the group stage
According to the plan, the Vietnam U22 team will gather in Vung Tau from November 23rd and travel to Thailand on December 1st. In the group stage, coach Kim Sang Sik's team will face Laos U22 on December 4th, followed by Malaysia U22 on December 11th. The opening match usually sets the trajectory of the group stage, so managing personnel risks and maximizing performance in the first 90 minutes is especially important.
Two-layer preparation and goal framework
Coach Kim Sang Sik has called up 28 players for the final push, the result of over a year of preparation. The goals include competing for medals at the 33rd SEA Games and building a team capable of competing at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. The training plan has been maintained regularly through international friendly matches and high-intensity training camps, helping the team accumulate experience and improve teamwork.
Despite facing pressure regarding their squad right before kick-off, the Vietnam U22 team maintained high determination and stuck to their planned schedule. In the absence of key players, a disciplined, composed, and effective performance in crucial moments will be the foundation for the team to achieve a positive result at the SEA Games 33.