In the 0-4 loss to Malaysia in June at Bukit Jalil Stadium, the Vietnamese team played without a real striker. The two players ranked highest, Ngoc Quang and Hai Long, could not make breakthroughs. Because both are not highly appreciated when playing as a center forward.
The two real strikers, Tuan Hai and Tien Linh, entered the field in the second half. But that was the time when the opponent grasped the playing style of the Vietnamese team and was ready to cut off all lines. The attacks of Mr. Kim Sang-sik's students were unable to exert their effectiveness. The Vietnamese team lost 4 goals to Malaysia, the attack could not create any dangerous opportunities.
But in this training session, Mr. Kim Sang-sik has been quite carefully prepared with 5 strikers in hand. All 5 players are in impressive form for their home clubs.
In addition to the two veteran strikers Tien Linh and Tuan Hai, names like Dinh Bac, Thanh Nhan or Gia Hung will also promise to bring surprises when used.
Speaking to the press on October 6, striker Tien Linh said: "Having 2 matches against Nepal at the moment is an important stepping stone for the Vietnam team. This squad has an alternation between young players and experienced faces, creating an interesting combination. This is also an opportunity for the coaching staff to evaluate the performance, spirit and adaptation of the new players.
Most of the young players were called up to the national team for the first time. They practice very hard, always want to show themselves and show that they are potential factors for Vietnamese football. The upcoming two matches will be a good opportunity for them to accumulate experience, get used to international competition pressure and improve in the future".
Tien Linh or Tuan Hai have the ability to play close to the opponent's goal, making the most of the space in front of the 16m50 round to seek a shot opportunity. Both can also approach the opponent's goal in set pieces. Dinh Bac, Thanh Nhan and Gia Hung tend to have a deviated direction, meaning their scope of activities is wider thanks to their youthfulness and versatility in playing style.
If there is a combination of these positions on the attack line, it is clear that coach Kim Sang-sik will add options to approach the opponent's goal and find goals. In addition, against an opponent not as strong as Nepal, the Korean coach can also experiment with young strikers to bring surprises. This will also be a calculation for the inheritance of the Vietnam national team's attack in the future.
The Vietnamese team has been quite carefully prepared for two important matches against Nepal. Not only stabilizing the force with the best names, but also building inheritance in the playing style to ensure the stability of the Vietnamese team.
