SEA Games 33: Coach Kim Sang Sik's Expectations for Vietnam U22

05/12/2025 08:53:00 PANDATV

The 2-1 win against Laos U22 in the first round of Group B men's footballSEA Games 33may bring 3 points, yet it is difficult to comfort supporters when looking at how Vietnam U22 executed their tactics, particularly their efficiency in front of goal.

Concerns for Vietnam U22 at SEA Games 33

Although Đình Bắc shone with a brace, this performance also revealed Vietnam U22’s heavy reliance on the striker considered the most experienced in the current squad. Moreover, Đình Bắc’s excessive confidence sometimes reduced the effectiveness of attacks when he chose to shoot instead of passing to teammates in better positions.

It’s understandable that Đình Bắc felt excited and eager to impress with another goal to complete a hat-trick, but in a major, prolonged tournament, the 2004-born player needs to keep a cool head.

At Rajamangala on December 3, Vietnam U22’s attack truly made their fans anxious as numerous chances slipped away one after another.

Coach Kim Sang Sik did not easily field such an offensively strong lineup, but since a big win was necessary to gain advantage, he had to start Thanh Nhàn, Quốc Việt, and Đình Bắc together. Văn Khang was moved back to left-back, though everyone knows Coach Kim expects the Vietnam U22 captain to mainly contribute to the attack.

Vietnam U22 could have won by a larger margin over Laos U22 if Quốc Việt and Thanh Nhàn’s shots were not blocked at crucial moments by Laos defenders or if Đình Bắc had played more as a team player.

Compared to the 3-0 victory against Laos at the Southeast Asian U23 Championship in July, this match showed a more hesitant Vietnam team under Coach Kim Sang Sik in approaching the opponent’s goal.

Vietnam U22 previously defeated Laos U22 comfortably 3-0 at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship held a few months ago. Photo: Tuấn Phạm

Vietnam U22 is repeating a familiar pattern, only truly making breakthroughs in the second half when the opponent’s stamina declines. Coach Kim Sang Sik made personnel changes, such as replacing Anh Quân with Minh Phúc, which improved attacking efficiency on the right wing.

However, the left side remains a concern. Văn Khang continuing at left-back has significantly reduced his attacking support, as this is not his natural position, resulting in insufficient pressure on Laos’ defense from Vietnam’s left side.

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Another issue is midfield organization. Xuân Bắc’s injury and exit at the 39th minute deprived Vietnam U22 of their best "playmaker". Quốc Cường, still inexperienced, was assigned the "soul" role to lead the play but is not yet capable of handling this responsibility fully.

The defense also raised concerns after conceding from a set-piece. Vietnam U22 used to be strong in these situations, but this time Laos U22 exploited their weakness caused by lack of concentration. The ball hitting the crossbar and dropping to a Laos player who easily scored into an open net clearly showed this lapse.

In a situation where a convincing win was needed to build momentum, Vietnam U22 only narrowly won and showed many instabilities. This makes the final Group B match against Malaysia U22 more tense, as Malaysia is considered stronger than Laos U22.

Coach Kim Sang Sik admitted the team "did not play according to the planned tactics, especially in the first half," and regretted only scoring two goals. The Korean coach also acknowledged that Vietnam U22 have not reached their best form yet. These comments partly reflect the reality that Vietnam U22 are not yet at their peak in both mentality and playstyle.

If they do not soon improve coordination, attacking variety, and defensive focus,SEA Games 33Coach Kim Sang Sik’s squad will face even greater challenges in their quest for the gold medal.