Hard to predict
In the list of the Vietnamese team, coach Kim Sang-sik called up 8 players who can take on the role of central midfielder. They are Quang Hai, Thanh Long, Hai Long, Van Truong, Ngoc Quang, Thai Son, Ngoc Tan and Hoang Duc.
In addition, another group including Van Thanh, Tien Anh, Xuan Manh, Van Duc, Van Khang, Bao Toan, or even Hai Long, Ngoc Quang, Ngoc Tan can play as wingers in a 4-defender formation (4-3-3, 4-2-3-1) or wingers, when the Vietnamese team uses a 5-defender formation (5-2-3, 5-4-1...)
In fact, it is difficult to determine the optimal faces in Mr. Kim Sang-sik's mind. The 47-year-old coach is probably also waiting for the performance of the Vietnamese team in the 3 friendly matches in Korea, from which to choose the appropriate factors to manage the midfield.
Looking back at the last 3 matches when Vietnam team met Russia, Thailand and India, Mr. Kim's calculation of the midfield in the starting lineup was relatively flexible.
It could be Hoang Duc, Thanh Long, Ngoc Quang (match against India), or 4 central midfielders including Hung Dung, Hoang Duc, Hai Long, Van Truong (match against Russia)...
Coach Kim Sang-sik's Rules
Although there were some changes to serve the testing process in the Vietnamese team, looking from the situation on the field, Mr. Kim's arrangement of players in the midfield also gave certain rules.
The Korean coach often chooses a defensive midfielder who is capable of falling back to receive the ball from the defense, before deploying various long and short passes.
In addition to simple ball retrieval and organization, this midfielder needs to ensure defense and competition to prevent the opponent from penetrating deep into the home field.
The second midfielder plays the role of a shuttle player, covering the midfield area of the Vietnam team, with a high frequency of moving, receiving the ball, advancing the ball or competing.
This is also part of the reason why Hung Dung - the player assigned this task in the recent period - was not summoned by Mr. Kim. The reason is that in the past half year, he no longer has enough physical strength to play like that for the whole match.
The third midfielder position often tends to play on the right as a winger. In the last 3 matches, this role has been assigned to Ngoc Quang, Hai Long and Quang Hai respectively.
Looking at this habit, it is not surprising that coach Kim Sang-sik organizes a formation of 3 central midfielders.
Among them, one player tends to play on the right as analyzed above. The model of midfielder number 6 (playing deep, organizing the ball from the home field) can include Thanh Long, Ngoc Tan, Van Truong.
In the shuttle midfielder position, Thai Son and Hoang Duc are the options that have been applied when the Vietnam team played friendly matches before. In addition, Quang Hai, Ngoc Quang, Hai Long will tend to play on the right, following the attacking direction of the home team.
Kim's central midfield allocation is only relative. This coach can change his management perspective when the previous plan is not optimal.
In addition, the unpredictability in determining the central midfielder position of the Vietnam team also depends on the form and performance of the players in the coming time. Not to mention, Ly Cong Hoang Anh or Nguyen Tuan Anh (Nam Dinh) also promise to be called up to the Vietnam team in early December.
At that time, the competition for personnel in midfield was even more fierce.
