Surprise addition
Center-back Nguyen Thanh Chung cannot participate in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 due to injury. He is overloaded with his knee, shows signs of inflammation and is at risk of long-term retirement if he continues to participate in continuous competition in the coming period. This is a big loss for coach Kim Sang-sik.
Despite fluctuating performance at Hanoi Club, Thanh Chung always creates peace of mind in front of the Vietnamese national team's goal. At ASEAN Cup 2024, he is 1 of 3 players rated highest by the organizers. Last month, in the journey to win the ASEAN Cup 2026, the player born in 1997 was present in all 8 matches, including 7 matches playing full-time on the field.
In theory, when there is no service from Thanh Chung, Mr. Kim Sang-sik will add a "thòng" center-back (playing in the center of the defense) to ensure equivalent tasks. Tran Dinh Trong, Nguyen Duc Chien or Doan Van Hau are potential candidates. However, in the end, coach Kim strengthens the attacking line with a fast striker - Ngo Dang Khoa.
In essence, without Ngo Dang Khoa, the front line of the Vietnamese team still has many options. Conversely, the central defender group is not only lacking in quantity but also significantly lacking in quality. For example, when Thanh Chung is no longer there, only Bui Hoang Viet Anh is a player capable of taking on the role of "thòng" central defender. Xuan Manh, Adou Minh, Nhat Minh, Tuan Tai, Ngoc Bao... are all lateral defenders, with little experience in covering, intervening, predicting and evaluating the game in key areas.
It should be added that if an emergency occurs, Viet Anh will have physical problems and will not be able to play. At that time, if the 3-center-back formation is still maintained, coach Kim Sang Sik cannot have a level B plan to fill the void in the defense of the "Golden Star Warriors".
Low" defense
In addition to the quantity factor, the Vietnamese national team's defense is also questioned about its modest height. After Van Hau and Thanh Chung's absence, Mr. Kim only has one center-back taller than 1m80 in hand, Bui Hoang Viet Anh (1m86). The other defenders chosen are all shorter than this milestone, such as Adou Minh (1m78), Nguyen Nhat Minh (1m76), Le Ngoc Bao (1m77), Pham Xuan Manh (1m74), Phan Tuan Tai (1m76), Cao Pendant Quang Vinh (1m77) or Truong Tien Anh (1m69).
If this is ASEAN Cup 2026, the height disadvantage of Vietnam's defense can be erased because the level of stature of strikers in the region is not too outstanding. However, the situation is completely different at the upcoming FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 when teams are allowed to call up the maximum force playing in European clubs. Thanks to that, Thailand, Indonesia or Malaysia can bring to the tournament "giants" in the forward line.
Thailand added Supachai Chaided (1m85), Jude Soonsup-Bell (1m86); Philippines registered strikers Bjorn Kristensen (1m83), Sebastian Rasmussen (1m92); Indonesia placed their trust in the "flying fortress" 1m95 tall - Mitchell Baker, Ole Romeny (1m85); while Malaysia has a naturalized striker 1m81 tall - Bergson da Silva.
The somewhat limited height of the Vietnamese national team's defense will really face many challenges at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. At the recent tournament, Vietnam also conceded a goal against Thailand in the second leg final after a high ball. This will be a lesson that coach Kim Sang-sik needs to pay attention to in the 5-day preparation period for the tournament.
Taking organization to compensate for stature is probably the way that the coaching staff of the Vietnamese national team is orienting for the players. Because looking at it from a positive perspective, although not having an advantage in stature, Adou Minh, Ngoc Bao or Nhat Minh have high discipline, mobility in covering and prediction of the tipping point quite well.
