Vietnam U22 holds intense training session, finalizes squad for match against Malaysia U22.
Coach Kim Sang Sik intensified tactical drills and divided the field into 2/3 practice matches to assess form before the final Group B match against U22 Malaysia. Nguyen Le Phat admitted feeling nervous, while Xuan Bac has returned to training.
On the afternoon of December 8th, the Vietnam U22 team concluded a high-intensity training session, highlighted by a practice match on two-thirds of the field – a choice that showed coach Kim Sang Sik wanted to simulate the pressure of a real match against Malaysia U22: tight space, fierce competition, and a demand for quick decisions. The goal was to finalize the starting lineup for the final match of Group B, a crucial game in the race to the semi-finals of the SEA Games 33.
Two-thirds court contest: a test of pace and concentration.
The reduced space allowed the team to simulate rapid transitions – situations where Malaysia often effectively utilizes speed and strength. Within this training framework, the coaching staff could clearly observe: consistency in each touch, level of concentration when surrounded by defenders, and fighting spirit in one-on-one challenges.
Coach Kim Sang Sik continues to emphasize tactical aspects, from organizing the initial pressing to maintaining team spacing in the midfield, thereby refining the optimal starting lineup. In the crucial phase, every small action – shielding the ball correctly, providing timely cover, switching attack channels appropriately – can be a "plus" in the eyes of the coaching staff.
Voices from the inside: A rookie and a lesson in growing up.
Before training, young striker Nguyen Le Phat frankly spoke about his feelings about participating in the regional tournament for the first time: “I am a young player, participating in the SEA Games for the first time. I always try my best every day, learning from the senior players to gain the coach's trust and be given the opportunity to play. I have to work even harder to deserve to be on the list of participants for the SEA Games.”
Speaking about their opponent, Le Phat emphasized: “Malaysia is a strong team, physically fit and fast. We must be ready to adapt at all times on the field, maintain confidence and unity as the coach always reminds us.” These remarks accurately reflect the tactical requirements for a high-paced match: staying calm when under pressure, being alert in positioning, and working together to defend key areas.
Personnel and final adjustments
Xuan Bac has returned to training after recovering from an injury sustained in the match against Laos. His presence on the training ground increases internal competition and opens up more options for the coaching staff, as the team needs to optimize speed and pressure on the flanks, as well as off-ball movement to stretch the opponent's defense.
In highly simulated training sessions, coach Kim Sang Sik gains additional data to assess the midfield's ability to withstand pressure, their discipline in dropping back to form defensive blocks, and their accuracy in one-touch passing. From this, the starting lineup will be the result of a combination of current form, adaptability to the pace, and the cohesion within their attacking triangles.
Malaysia – a test of fitness, speed, and transitions.
From the opponent's perspective, U22 Malaysia presents a challenge in situations where they sprint after winning the ball. This requires U22 Vietnam to:
- Maintain a tight formation when you lose possession to limit the space behind you.
- React quickly in the first "5-second transition" phase, preventing the opponent from getting the ball out wide or straight through the middle.
- Discipline in hand-to-hand combat and supportive cover in the half-space corridor.
A match can be decided by a few small details: the first step when pressing, the direction of shielding the ball to force the opponent to pass into a tight space, or an early pass that breaks through the defensive wall. All of these have been repeatedly practiced in space-compression drills like the 2/3 field exercises of the Vietnam U22 team.
The final round of Group B and the weight of 3 points.
The match against U22 Malaysia, the final game in Group B, is crucial for securing a place in the semi-finals of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 33). Under pressure to achieve results and with high fan expectations, coach Kim Sang Sik needs a team that takes to the field with tactical composure, defensive discipline, and sharpness in decisive moments.
From training ground to match day, the evaluation criteria remain consistent: stability, focus, and fighting spirit. Once the core squad is finalized, the rest will depend on how the U22 Vietnam team translates the training exercises they've completed into effective performances on the field, in a match where every square meter of space is valuable.