Indonesian media commented that the return of the naturalized striker of Brazilian origin brings more strength to the Vietnamese team's attack, but at the same time also creates a "comfortable headache" for coach Kim Sang-sik.
The biggest problem for the Korean coach lies in choosing between Nguyen Tai Loc and Nguyen Dinh Bac for the starting lineup in the match against Singapore on July 31st at My Dinh Stadium.
In the opening match against Timor-Leste 7-0, Dinh Bac took advantage of the opportunity when he scored a hat-trick and had 1 more assist. The excellent performance helped the young striker be voted the best player of the match, and also scored strong points with the coaching staff.
Meanwhile, Nguyen Tai Loc is highly appreciated for his ability to create breakthroughs, skillful ball handling and playing experience. According to Indonesian media, bringing Tai Loc back to the main squad immediately after recovery or continuing to place trust in Dinh Bac are both reasonable choices.
Indonesian newspapers also mentioned the possibility of coach Kim Sang-sik using both players in the starting lineup by pulling Tai Loc down to play lower. However, this option could cause the midfield of the Vietnamese team to lose balance if too many players are positioned towards attack, especially against Singapore - an opponent considered to have a better organized defense system than Timor-Leste.
In fact, having more quality personnel options is a positive sign for the Vietnamese team. However, the final choice of coach Kim Sang-sik will depend on the tactics for Singapore as well as the form and fitness of each player after pre-match training sessions.
An analysis by Indonesian media shows that regional opponents still pay great attention to changes in the force and how the Vietnamese team operates in the journey to conquer the ASEAN Championship 2026.
