Striker problems
Coach Kim Sang-sik did not call up any new strikers to the Vietnam National Team in the focus towards the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. In fact, the number of attacking players has decreased by 2 compared to the 2024 ASEAN Cup.
Nguyen Xuan Son still needs more than half a year to return to the field, Nguyen Van Toan has only returned a few days after being injured.
Among the 4 strikers that Mr. Kim Sang-sik continues to trust, Nguyen Tien Linh is uncertain to play because he is not in the best physical condition. The 2024 Vietnam Golden Ball suffered 2 consecutive injuries in a short time in the 2024-2025 V.League. Although not too serious, up to now, Tien Linh's knee is still swollen after a collision with Bui Tien Dung in the match on March 8.
Coach Nguyen Cong Manh of Binh Duong certainly does not want his student to face any other risks during the period when the Vietnam team will play a friendly match with Cambodia (March 19) and the match against Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers (March 15).
Mr. Kim Sang-sik has no additional or replacement in the Vietnam national team's attack line up to now. This means that the remaining 3 strikers, Pham Tuan Hai, Bui Vi Hao and Dinh Thanh Binh, are still qualified to meet the professional requirements of the Korean coach. In particular, Tuan Hai is the name that experts have high expectations for.
The flag is in hand
At the 2024 ASEAN Cup, Pham Tuan Hai is not the priority choice of coach Kim Sang-sik. The brilliant performance of Nguyen Xuan Son and Tien Linh has given Tuan Hai very few opportunities to play. It was not until the second leg final between Thailand and Vietnam at Rajamangala Stadium that the striker born in 1998 had his first and only starting position in the tournament.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, Tuan Hai contributed greatly to helping the home team defeat Thailand right on the away field, with 1 goal and 1 "mset" for the central defender Pansa Hemviboon to play an own goal. Remember that in the history of the ASEAN Cup, against Tuan Hai, no Vietnamese player left his mark in the 2 goals in the final match. It was even more meaningful when he shined at the right time when the Vietnam team lost Nguyen Xuan Son at the end of the first half due to a serious injury.
After winning the ASEAN Cup, coach Kim Sang-sik confided that he was at fault for Tuan Hai for not being able to give him many opportunities to compete. The strategist born in 1976 also highly appreciated the perseverance and professionalism in training, living and competing of this player. In the context of Tien Linh and Xuan Son facing their own problems, this is an opportunity for Tuan Hai to affirm himself in the position of "head striker" of the Vietnam National Team.
There is an interesting detail, Tuan Hai was actually an excellent center forward in national youth tournaments. Under the leadership of coach Pham Minh Duc, he became a quality "goal-scoring machine" for Hanoi youth teams. In 2016, Tuan Hai won 2 National U19 and U21 Top Scorer titles, and was also the leader in bringing Hong Linh Ha Tinh (then named Hanoi B) to the V.League 2020.
However, in the V.League, prioritizing foreign striker is almost an "unwritten rule", coach Minh Duc was forced to take Tuan Hai to play as a winger. However, he still ensured his home team's task of participating in the attack. In 3 seasons at Hanoi FC, Tuan Hai scored more than 30 goals in 80 matches. Last season, he scored 9 goals and was only behind his senior Nguyen Van Quyet at the Capital team.
In the Asian arena, Tuan Hai became the second Vietnamese player to score 4 goals in the AFC Champions League. He also had a beautiful goal when Vietnam faced Japan in the 2023 Asian Cup finals.
It will not be surprising if coach Kim Sang-sik gives Tuan Hai more opportunities in the two upcoming matches between Vietnam and Cambodia and Laos. And when the flag was in hand, fans also waited for this striker to pass.
