Xuan Truong and Khac Ngoc: The Vietnamese version of Gerrard and Lampard?

Before the match between the Jordan national team and the Vietnam national team, Than Quang Ninh coach Phan Thanh Hung commented: "I guess midfielder Khac Ngoc will play a very important role in Vietnam's style of play in tonight's match because from the second half of the 2017 V.League season to the first few rounds of the 2018 V.League season, Khac Ngoc has shown that he is currently the most dangerous attacking midfielder in Vietnamese football."

I highly appreciate Khac Ngoc because he possesses the best qualities to take on the role of playmaker from midfield: sharp tactical thinking, skillful technique, physical endurance, and effectiveness with his through passes into the gaps of the opponent's defense.

Those factors make it highly likely that coach Park Hang Seo will pair him with Xuan Truong to find new impetus and creativity for the Vietnamese national team's midfield."

Khac Ngoc and Xuan Truong are considered two of the best-performing central midfielders in Vietnamese football recently. Photo: Internet

Contrary to the predictions of coach Phan Thanh Hung and most football fans, coach Park Hang Seo did not include Khac Ngoc in the starting lineup. It wasn't until the 64th minute of the match that the player from SLNA Club was brought onto the field to replace midfielder Xuan Truong.

Coach Park's decision surprised many and left them feeling somewhat disappointed. The question arises: Has Coach Park Hang Seo not yet found the most effective way to position Khac Ngoc alongside Xuan Truong?

Objectively speaking, Xuan Truong and Khac Ngoc are two of the most in-form central midfielders in Vietnamese football recently. Experts and fans alike are excited about the prospect of Truong playing alongside Ngoc in the center of the Vietnamese national team's midfield. Unfortunately, coach Park Hang Seo has kept Khac Ngoc on the bench.

The decision to bring Khac Ngoc on as a substitute for Xuan Truong in the middle of the second half shows that coach Park Hang Seo is not yet willing or able to find a way to use both players simultaneously on the field.

The goal scored by striker Anh Duc against the Jordan national team was largely thanks to midfielder Xuan Truong. Photo: Internet

Witnessing this, Vietnamese fans are extremely worried about the partnership between Xuan Truong and Khac Ngoc. It seems that the "problem" that Coach Park Hang Seo is facing is quite similar to what coaches Eriksson, McClaren, Capello, and Hodgson of the England national team (2004-2014) faced with the Gerrard-Lampard duo. Although considered two of the best central midfielders in the Premier League era, Gerrard and Lampard always disappointed whenever they played together for the England national team.

Therefore, if coach Park Hang Seo cannot solve the problem of Xuan Truong and Khac Ngoc, the strength of the Vietnamese national team will be significantly affected. Of course, nothing can be said for certain after only one match.