In the friendly match with Cambodia on March 19, the Vietnam team won with a score of 2-1. However, considering the great victories in the past, this result has not satisfied fans.
Talking to Lao Dong, commentator Quang Tung said that the high expectations were understandable, but the important thing was that the team won.
"The final result is important. This is also the team's first win in 2025. The low score makes many people worried, because they are used to the Vietnamese team winning by a large margin against Cambodia. In addition, there has not been a remarkable improvement in the team compared to the 2024 ASEAN Cup.
But I think this is a friendly match, a preparation for the official tournament, the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. In a few days, in the match against Laos, we will have a full assessment of coach Kim Sang-sik and his team".
In the match against Cambodia, coach Kim Sang-sik deployed a fairly strong squad, mostly the pillars of the 2024 ASEAN Cup.
"I think this caution is appropriate. But I'm worried that the team doesn't have a solution for different situations, for example, two playing options, with different diagrams. The main lineup is still of better quality than the rest," commentator Quang Tung assessed.
"Without Xuan Son, the Vietnamese team loses a support. He is a scoring machine, a breakout in any defense, especially in Southeast Asia. When Xuan Son is absent, there is a gap in the rest.
Fans were more worried because Tien Linh was not in his best condition. Tien Linh only entered the field in the second half, but this is more like the time for him to warm up after an injury than to show his leading role in the attack".
On March 25, the Vietnam team will host Laos in the first match of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. They fell into a group quite easily, including Laos, Malaysia and Nepal. However, subjectivity can be a factor that causes Mr. Kim and his team to not perform at their original level.
"The Laos team is using a foreign coach. At the 2024 ASEAN Cup, right in the match against the Vietnamese team, a fresh look appeared. The lack of confidence has decreased, they dare to hold the ball and deploy their playing style. The spirit of not knowing fear can be the weapon of teams that are not highly appreciated against an opponent stronger than them".
"If the stronger team does not demonstrate their abilities properly, has subjective factors, and cannot evaluate the opponent's explosions, they may have to pay the price," commentator Quang Tung said.
The match between Vietnam and Laos takes place at 7:30 p.m. on March 25 at Binh Duong Stadium.
