Coach Kim Sang-sik and his students will have their first match after winning the 2024 ASEAN Cup, when hosting the Cambodian team at home. This friendly match will give Mr. Kim Sang-sik the opportunity to test personnel in all 3 lines, before meeting Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
In the goalkeeper position, Filip Nguyen asked not to focus and Dinh Trieu returned after injury. This is an opportunity for the Vietnamese team to evaluate the abilities of the three goalkeepers Nguyen Van Viet, Trinh Xuan Hoang and Tran Trung Kien.
With the coaching of assistant Lee Won-jae, these 3 goalkeepers will certainly improve their skills, to compete for the starting position when playing against the Cambodian team. Further, they are also potential faces to compete for the No. 1 goalkeeper position in the national team, replacing Dinh Trieu and Filip Nguyen.
Also in defense, Mr. Kim Sang-sik can experiment with Pham Ly Duc in the center-back position. This is the only rookie called up to the national team this time. Ly Duc has an ideal and strong physique but has no experience in international competition.
With his professional ability demonstrated in the V.League, Ly Duc has a great opportunity to play against the Cambodian team, in the context that Bui Hoang Viet Anh has returned to the club due to injury.
The midfield will be where Mr. Kim Sang-sik will have many experimentals. In addition to the familiar names and abilities that have been affirmed through the recent ASEAN Cup such as Doan Ngoc Tan, Quang Hai, Hoang Duc, Chau Ngoc Quang, the team's midfield also witnessed the return of some faces such as Vo Hoang Minh Khoa, Trieu Viet Hung or Nguyen Thai Son or Tran Bao Toan.
They will create a fresh look in the team's playing style if used. However, for a cautious person like Mr. Kim Sang-sik, he will not completely renew the midfield, instead using new faces to return in moderation.
The match against Cambodia is very important. In this list of new faces, I see how their potential is. In addition, Cambodia also made changes. So we are also careful to find a way to deal with this match, said Mr. Kim Sang-sik before the match.
Up front, Tien Linh - Vietnam Golden Ball 2024 - has just recovered from injury. Most likely, Mr. Kim Sang-sik will not take any risks to let him play the whole match. Instead, he will prioritize using Pham Tuan Hai, Bui Vi Hao and Dinh Thanh Binh more. This striker trio has only scored 2 goals in the recent ASEAN Cup, of which Dinh Thanh Binh has not scored any.
The Cambodian team is not an easy opponent, with 6 naturalized players spread across all 3 lines. Therefore, the Vietnamese team being able to impose a playing style on the opponent, successful in testing personnel, and preserving the force for the upcoming match against Laos is the goal that Mr. Kim Sang-sik is aiming for.
The Vietnam vs Cambodia match will take place at 7:30 p.m. on March 19.
