The Vietnam national team will rely on offense to compensate for defense.

While the 2024 ASEAN Cup saw Vietnam triumph through Xuan Son's brilliance and a disciplined, effective approach, the 2026 ASEAN Cup is expected to showcase a more dominant team.

Through recent friendly matches and the training camp in South Korea,Coach Kim Sang Sikis gradually shaping the image of a proactive Vietnam team that attacks, imposes its game, and scores many goals.

The 4-0 victory over Myanmar in Thai Nguyen was the clearest proof. Not only did they create an overwhelming game,Vietnamalso showed a very modern football philosophy, with almost all players on the pitch joining the attack.

Left-sided center-back Nhat Minh often joined the build-up, while Van Hau continuously surged forward to support attacks on the left flank.

On the opposite flank, Truong Tien Anh continued to showcase his overlapping runs and highly accurate crosses, while right-sided center-back Xuan Manh even scored a goal.

In midfield, Hoang Duc did not hesitate to unleash powerful long-range shots, while Quang Hai remained the "brain" with his through balls and creative moves to open up spaces.

This is a Vietnam team that can score from many directions, many positions, and no longer relies on a single individual. This clearly reflects the tactical philosophy Coach Kim Sang Sik is pursuing.

Two years ago, Xuan Son almost carried the entire attack on the journey to winning the 2024 ASEAN Cup. The Brazilian-born striker scored, assisted, held up the ball, and created space for teammates. But when Xuan Son got injured, the team's attacking power dropped significantly.

Now, everything is different.Xuan Sonis no longer "alone." Beside him are Hoang Hen and Tai Loc, two naturalized strikers who have great chemistry after years playing in the V-League.

Not stopping there, Coach Kim Sang Sik also has a quality bench. Dinh Bac, Hai Long, Gia Hung, Viet Cuong, Ngoc My, or Van Vi are all capable of making a difference when coming on. This squad depth allows Kim to comfortably rotate his players.

Notably, in the three friendly matches in South Korea and the win over Myanmar, the Korean strategist made many personnel changes. The lineup was constantly refreshed, many players were given opportunities, but the scoring efficiency remained high with 10 goals in South Korea and another 4 against Myanmar.

Coach Kim Sang Sik's confidence also comes from favorable circumstances ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Cup. While Vietnam had a full month of gathering, three weeks of training in South Korea, and continuous quality friendlies, their major regional rivals faced many difficulties.

Thailand and Indonesia do not have their strongest squads because the tournament falls outside FIFA Days, meaning many clubs are not obligated to release players. Malaysia just changed their coach and is undergoing a federation overhaul, so they haven't had much time to refine their play. Singapore still hasn't emerged from a long period of decline. Compared to the opponents, Vietnam clearly has a more synchronized and stable preparation.

That is the foundation for Coach Kim Sang Sik to boldly change his philosophy. Instead of prioritizing defense like previous generations, he wants the team to control possession, press high, use attack as defense, and overwhelm weaker opponents. This is also the trend of modern football, where a strong team must know how to keep the ball and apply constant pressure to reduce the burden on the defense.

With captain Duy Manh injured, having the attack hold the ball more is also the best way to protect the backline. When the opponent doesn't have the ball, the risk of creating chances is significantly reduced.

The 2026 ASEAN Cup is therefore not just a journey to defend the title. For Coach Kim Sang Sik, it is also a stepping stone for bigger goals such as the FIFA ASEAN Cup, the 2027 Asian Cup, and further, the 2030 World Cup qualifiers.