Xuan Son returns in full fitness, Vietnam national team's attack is revamped.

Nguyen Xuan Son has fully recovered and confirmed he is 100% fit ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. The return of the striker who scored 7 goals in the 2024 AFF Cup is expected to give a boost to Vietnam's attack, which coach Kim Sang-sik is rebuilding in a more diverse and proactive direction.

The weight of 7 goals in the 2024 AFF Cup

Xuan Son's influence is clear: he was the hero in the 2024 AFF Cup winning campaign with 7 goals, and also won both the top scorer and the best player award. Returning to the national team after an injury sustained in the final match, the striker born in 1997 shared: "I'm 100% fit and ready to play, I can play the full 90 minutes or come on at any time, just waiting for the coach's order." His first training session with the whole team showed his familiar fitness level.

Option to use: the decisive blow in the second round.

Coach Kim Sang-sik will most likely bring Xuan Son onto the field in the second half of the match against Laos on November 19th. This is when the opposing team usually reduces their intensity and makes mistakes, creating an opportunity for the 28-year-old "killer" to rediscover his scoring touch. This approach also allows the Vietnamese team to manage the risk of physical condition issues while maintaining the team's pressing rhythm throughout the 90 minutes.

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

The period without Xuan Son exposed the limitations of relying on a single individual. The attack was stagnant: only scoring 4 goals against the weak Nepal team and failing to score in the 0-4 defeat against Malaysia. The counter-attacking style of play became predictable, and the transitions lacked surprise in the final third of the field.

Rebuilding the attack: high-pressing and versatility.

Recognizing the problem, coach Kim Sang-sik promoted a new attacking structure. The focus was on proactively winning back the ball early, exploiting the spaces behind the opponent's defense instead of waiting for pure counter-attacks. With the addition of Xuan Son, Vietnam had clearer finishing opportunities; but more importantly, the system had to create enough quantity and quality of chances so as not to be dependent on a single striker.

Key players: Tien Linh, Viet Cuong, Gia Hung

Alongside the increasingly improved Tien Linh, two young strikers, Viet Cuong and Gia Hung, have been given opportunities. Both born in 2000, possess a modern, hardworking, and energetic playing style, well-suited to the high-pressing philosophy. Alternating roles as a target man, stretching defenders, and cutting inside will give the Vietnamese team more flexibility in their approach to the penalty area.

Xuan Son's role in the new system

With his off-ball movement and one-touch finishing, Xuan Son can be the target of attacks after the team regains possession in the opponent's half. But instead of being the only solution, he becomes a balancing piece: drawing the center-backs away, creating space for teammates, and forcing the opponent to retreat. From there, Vietnam can maintain multi-layered pressure, reducing reliance on individual moments.

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

The immediate goal is to reactivate the goal-scoring habit amidst a system transition. Xuan Son's return brings both morale and technical skill; but the rest must come from the collective: a clear pressing structure, a multi-channel attacking strategy, and consistent contributions from the forwards. If this is achieved, the Vietnamese national team will not only solve the efficiency problem but also significantly reduce the risks associated with the absence of any individual player.