In the upcoming gathering to prepare for FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026, coach Kim Sang-sik will not have the service of defender Nguyen Van Vi due to not recovering from a calf injury from the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final.
According to the doctor's consultation, the player born in 1998 needs more than a month to recover from the injury, while the tournament will take place from September 25 to October 5.
This is a big loss for the Vietnamese team because Van Vi can take on many roles in the squad. Not only defending, he also often moves upwards, or binds into the center to create more attacking options.
When Van Vi is absent, coach Kim Sang-sik can choose Cao Pendant Quang Vinh (Hanoi Police). He used to wear the Vietnamese national team jersey in the previous period, but did not participate in ASEAN Cup 2026 due to busy schedules with his managing team.
When Quang Vinh returns, Mr. Kim can maintain the trend of pushing up the full-back but leaning towards strength and coordination more. The Hanoi Police player can combine with a midfielder or striker on the left wing to create overlapping wing situations.
Compared to Van Vi, Quang Vinh does not possess the ability to accelerate as well, but physique and direct playing style are advantages that can help him adapt to the requirements in the national team.
In addition, Phan Tuan Tai is also a new solution. The defender born in 2001 has the ability to pass and cross from a lower position, putting the ball into the penalty area early, thereby shortening the time to deploy an attack. This was once shown in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2026 final.
The personnel problem of the Vietnamese team will depend on the final decision of coach Kim Sang-sik, based on the playing style and the team formation towards the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026.
