Vietnam's national team secures a favorable momentum ahead of the Asean Cup.

Vietnam's squad enjoyed a productive warm-up match with Myanmar, which acted as a vital "final test." The game at Thai Nguyen Stadium was more than just an opportunity for Coach Kim Sang Sik to assess his players; it was also a promising introduction for a group in the midst of a major generational shift.

Facing a moderate challenge like Myanmar, Coach Kim Sang Sik still fielded his strongest lineup. The Vietnamese team was determined to secure a win over Myanmar to achieve the perfect run-up for the 2026 ASEAN Cup. In goal, goalkeeper Le Giang Patrik made his debut for the national team. The three central defenders were Nguyen Nhat Minh, Nguyen Thanh Chung, and Pham Xuan Manh. The two wing-backs were Truong Tien Anh and Doan Van Hau.

In midfield, captain Nguyen Quang Hai partnered with Nguyen Hoang Duc in central midfield. These are currently the two highest-quality players in Vietnamese football. The attacking trio consisted of Nguyen Xuan Son, Do Hoang Hen, and Nguyen Tai Loc. The most notable highlight in the starting lineup was the trust placed in Nguyen Quang Hai, who was given the captain's armband. At 29 years old, Quang Hai is in the prime of his career and is expected to serve as a crucial link between experienced veterans, newly naturalized players, and the younger generation.

In the 5th minute, from a cross by Hoang Hen on the right flank for Tai Loc, who was closely marked inside the Myanmar penalty area, the ball bounced out to Xuan Son, who executed an acrobatic volley that hit the ground and curled into the bottom corner, leaving goalkeeper Sann Sat Naing helpless. This goal extended Xuan Son's scoring streak against Myanmar.

Recall that two years ago, on his debut for the Vietnamese national team, Nguyen Xuan Son scored a brace and provided two assists in a 5-0 win over Myanmar in the final group stage match of the 2024 ASEAN Cup, a tournament that Coach Kim Sang Sik's team later won. In the final minutes of the first half, Vietnam doubled their lead. From a set piece on the left, Truong Tien Anh curled the ball into the box, allowing defender Pham Xuan Manh to comfortably head the ball into the net for the second time.

Vietnam's continuous attacks led to a third goal in the 60th minute. Tien Anh dribbled from the right flank into the center before passing to Hoang Hen, who took a touch and fired a low, tricky shot from outside the 18-yard box, sending the ball into the far corner as the opposing goalkeeper could only watch. Thus, Hoang Hen scored his first goal for the Vietnam national team.

Leading 3-0 in a comfortable game, Vietnam continued to experiment with different personnel and tactics. Coach Kim Sang Sik brought on Dinh Bac and Viet Anh to replace Nhat Minh and Thanh Chung. Vietnam switched to a back-four defensive system and a front-four attack. In the 90th minute, Dinh Bac won a penalty for Vietnam with a clever piece of play inside the Myanmar box. Dinh Bac himself converted the penalty to seal a convincing 4-0 victory for Vietnam.

It is clear that the performance against Myanmar served as a high-intensity test to evaluate the current strength of the Vietnamese team before embarking on their title defense. The results of this dress rehearsal will give Coach Kim Sang Sik a comprehensive overview before the official matches begin.

The measure of success for Coach Kim Sang Sik in this match was not the margin of victory, but rather the smooth execution of tactics, the cohesion of new players, and the preservation of a healthy squad ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Cup campaign.