The Vietnam team will face the Laos team in the opening match of Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup final qualifiers. A big victory is a task within reach of coach Kim Sang-sik and his team.
In the goalkeeper position, Dinh Trieu is still the best choice at the moment compared to young goalkeepers such as Van Viet and Trung Kien.
Up front of the Laos team, Bounphachan Bounkong is still a dangerous striker. Therefore, Bui Tien Dung, the left-sided center back, will be tasked with closely following Bounkong, while Do Duy Manh plays on the right-sided wing and Thanh Chung holds the center position in the three central defenders.
Nguyen Van Vi will likely be chosen to play left-back, especially when Trieu Viet Hung was substituted after only 30 minutes in the match against Cambodia, which makes it difficult for him to compete for an official position. In the opposite direction, Vu Van Thanh is still the best choice for the Vietnam team.
In midfield, coach Kim Sang-sik is likely to continue to use Quang Hai and Hoang Duc. These two players had a stable performance in the international friendly match against the Cambodian team on March 19.
Sharing at the pre-match press conference, coach Kim Sang-sik wanted the Vietnamese team to score many goals in the first half.
Up front, Pham Tuan Hai and Nguyen Hai Long will play on the two flankets, with the ability to flexiblely switch positions. Nguyen Xuan Son cannot play due to a long-term injury, and Nguyen Tien Linh will be his replacement.
The match between the Vietnam team and the Laos team will take place at 7:30 p.m. tonight (March 5).
Expected lineup of the Vietnam team: Nguyen Dinh Trieu, Bui Tien Dung, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Do Duy Manh, Vu Van Thanh, Nguyen Van Vi, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Quang Hai, Pham Tuan Hai, Nguyen Hai Long, Nguyen Tien Linh.
