Vietnam U23 and the midfield dilemma: When Nguyen Thai Son can no longer shoulder the burden forever.

Concluding their journey at the SEA Games 33, despite achieving certain results, the reality on the field has exposed worrying flaws in the tactical system of the Vietnam U23 team under coach Kim Sang-sik. The most pressing issue currently lies in the midfield, where the imbalance is becoming a major obstacle as the team aims for the 2026 U23 Asian Championship – a far more demanding competition.

The void left by Nguyen Van Truong's injury.

The absence of Nguyen Van Truong due to injury left a huge void in terms of controlling and dictating the tempo of the game. At the SEA Games, regional opponents lacked the sharpness to fully exploit this weakness, allowing the Vietnam U23 team to partially compensate for this shortcoming with their courageous fighting spirit.

However, when venturing onto the continental stage, where teams possess high-pressure pressing and lightning-fast transitions, the absence of a true "orchestrator" can lead to a chain reaction of failures. Coach Kim Sang-sik has attempted to rotate the squad with the trio of Thai Son, Xuan Bac, and Quoc Cuong, but reality has proven this combination lacks the necessary stability.

The burden weighs heavily on Nguyen Thai Son's shoulders.

In the current formation, captain Khuất Văn Khang performs best when deployed in his preferred wing position rather than being confined to the central midfield. Meanwhile, Xuân Bắc and Quốc Cường have a distinctly attacking inclination, lacking the tenacity and defensive capabilities necessary to protect the back line. The inevitable consequence is that all responsibility falls on Nguyễn Thái Sơn's shoulders.

The midfielder from Thanh Hoa is having to play the role of a "man with no lungs," simultaneously taking on the task of recovering the ball and initiating attacks. The SEA Games 33 final is the clearest example: without Thai Son on the field, the U23 Vietnam midfield was immediately broken down by the opponent, completely losing direction and connection between the lines.

Seeking a key player to 'share the burden' for the Asian campaign.

Notably, despite his enduring stamina, Thai Son is not an indestructible machine. At the continental level, he alone is not enough to shoulder the burden of the midfield against opponents superior in physique and stamina. Experts believe that the emergence of a player like Nguyen Duc Phu (from Hanoi Police FC) could be the key to solving the problem.

Duc Phu's diligent, simple yet effective playing style is seen as the perfect piece to "share the burden" with Thai Son, creating a central midfield duo capable of more evenly matched competition. The U23 Asian Championship is not a place for experimentation. If they don't soon find a solution to balance the midfield or add players capable of defending from afar, the ambitions of coach Kim Sang-sik's team to advance further will be difficult to realize.