Xuan Son returns 100%, Vietnam national team's attack line is renewed

Nguyen Xuan Son has fully recovered and confirmed that he is 100% fit ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. The return of the striker who scored 7 goals at the 2024 AFF Cup is expected to create a boost for a Vietnamese attack that is being rebuilt by coach Kim Sang-sik in a more diverse and proactive direction.

The weight of 7 goals in AFF Cup 2024

Xuan Son's influence is clear: he was the hero in the journey to win the AFF Cup 2024 with 7 goals, and also won the Golden Boot and Best Player of the tournament titles. Returning to the team after an injury in the final, the striker born in 1997 shared: "I am 100% fit and ready to play, play the full 90 minutes or come on the field at any time, just waiting for the coach's command." The first training session with the whole team showed his familiar energy.

Option to use: decisive blow from round two

Coach Kim Sang-sik is likely to bring Xuan Son onto the field in the second half of the match against Laos on November 19. That is when the opponent usually reduces the intensity and makes mistakes, creating conditions for the 28-year-old "killer" to find the feeling of scoring. This approach also allows the Vietnamese team to manage physical risks, while maintaining the rhythm of pressing the whole team throughout the 90 minutes.

Lessons from the absence of Xuan Son: numbers speak for themselves

The period without Xuan Son exposed the limitations of depending on one individual. The attack was deadlocked: only scoring 4 goals against weak team Nepal and "silenced" in the 0-4 defeat against Malaysia. The defensive counter-attacking style of play became easy to predict, the transition rhythm lacked surprise in the final third of the field.

Rebuilding the attack: high pressing and diversity

Recognizing the problem, coach Kim Sang-sik pushed for a new attacking structure. The focus was on winning the ball back early, exploiting the space behind the opponent’s defense, rather than waiting for a pure counterattack. With Xuan Son, Vietnam had a clearer end point; but more importantly, the system had to create enough quantity and quality of chances to not depend on one striker.

Key personnel: Tien Linh, Viet Cuong, Gia Hung

Alongside Tien Linh, who is improving, two young strikers Viet Cuong and Gia Hung have been given opportunities. Both, born in 2000, possess a modern, hard-working and energetic playing style, suitable for the high-pressing philosophy. The rotation of roles between the wall-maker, the stretcher and the cutter will help the Vietnamese team be more flexible in their approach to the penalty area.

The role of Xuan Son in the new system

With his off-the-ball movement and one-touch finishing, Xuan Son can be the focal point of attacks after the team wins the ball back in the opposition half. But rather than being the only solution, he becomes the balancing piece: pulling the centre-backs, opening up space for his teammates and forcing the opposition to drop deep. From there, Vietnam can maintain multi-layered pressure, reducing their dependence on individual moments.

Ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers: towards a new team

The immediate goal is to reactivate the habit of scoring goals in the context of a changing system. Xuan Son's return brings both spirit and expertise; but the rest must come from the collective: a clear pressing structure, a multi-channel attack plan and regular contributions from the strikers. If done, the Vietnam team will not only solve the efficiency problem, but also significantly reduce the risk of missing any individual.