Patrik Lê Giang performed brilliantly, yet the defensive line still worries Coach Kim Sang Sik.

Vietnam's national team ended their pre-ASEAN Cup 2026 dress rehearsal with a 4-0 win against Myanmar in Thái Nguyên. While the scoreline was encouraging for the forwards, defensive worries remained hidden beneath the surface.

Judging solely by the scoreline, the Vietnamese team had an almost flawless game. Four goals, overwhelming control, 64% ball possession, and no goals conceded.

However, for many,Myanmarwas not a true test of the team's capability. The away side had recently changed their coach, were significantly weaker, and spent most of the game simply packing in defense.

Two years ago, Vietnam defeated this same opponent 5-0. This time, the 4-0 result remained impressive, yet the spaces that Myanmar managed to exploit were still clearly visible.

The biggest concern was on the left side. As early as the first half, coach Jorn Andersen identified the gaps behind Văn Hậu and Nhật Minh whenever they both advanced to join the attack. The away team repeatedly exploited that flank with quick transitions, putting Patrik Lê Giang's goal under threat at least twice.

Had Myanmar's shots been more clinical, the scoreline could have been different. Indeed, the lack of chemistry between Văn Hậu and Nhật Minh was not unexpected, as they are a newly trialed defensive duo for the national side.

Having never played an official match together, it's understandable that their covering, spacing, and role distribution are still clumsy.

In the heart of the defense, things were not entirely reassuring either. With Đỗ Duy Mạnh sidelined by injury, Coach Kim Sang Sik kept his faith in Thành Chung. Yet the Hanoi FC center-back has not returned to his peak form over the past two campaigns. Backups such as Việt Anh and Gia Bảo are not considered as strong as Thành Chung.

Center-back Việt Anh of the championV-LeagueCông an Hà Nội is maintaining more consistent form, but still has to wait for opportunities from the bench. Similarly, the center-back of the National Cup champion club Công an TP.HCM, Khổng Minh Gia Bảo, is also only a backup option.

On the bright side, within the three-man defense, Xuân Mạnh remained steady. The Hanoi FC player not only performed well defensively but also scored to increase the lead to 2-0.

Of course, it must also be noted that Coach Kim Sang Sik hasn't unveiled all his preparations. Myanmar wasn't a strong enough opponent to force Vietnam to expose all their tactical schemes. The coaching staff likely kept key strategies in reserve forASEAN Cup.

Apart from the defense, another area requiring improvement is the transition speed. Vietnam maintained good ball possession, but their short combinations lacked the necessary pace to swiftly penetrate the opposition's backline. Both Hoàng Đức and Quang Hải are good at regulating play, but they are not the kind of midfielders who can sustain rapid bursts.

Perhaps that's the reason whyCoach Kim Sang Sikhas been trialing Tài Lộc and Hoàng Hên in the center of the pitch. Both possess a clever left foot, superior dribbling skills, and better acceleration in confined spaces.

If they fully adapt, they will enable Vietnam to switch play more quickly, deliver the ball to the strikers earlier, and generate unexpected threats from midfield.

Patrik Lê Giang enjoyed a fairly satisfying debut, keeping a clean sheet. However, the Công an TP.HCM goalkeeper was not tested enough to gauge his full capabilities in the national team environment. Greater challenges will undoubtedly come when the ASEAN Cup kicks off.