Unexpected change
The Vietnamese team has concluded its 10-day training trip in Korea. The positivity from a professional and spiritual perspective is easily seen in coach Kim Sang-sik and his team.
After a series of 4 official matches with only draws and losses against India, Iraq, Russia, and Thailand, 3 consecutive victories in friendly matches with "blue team" Ulsan Citizen, Daegu FC, and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors created great motivation and confidence for the Vietnam team before the AFF Cup.
In addition to the mental factor, the playing style and tactics of the Vietnam team have also changed positively. One of them is the effectiveness in free kicks, which coach Kim Sang-sik has focused on training his players to the maximum. It should be remembered that in the previous 5 official matches, the Vietnam team did not have a single goal from a set piece. The most recent time, on the 11m mark in the match against India, Que Ngoc Hai could not successfully execute his kick.
On the contrary, free kicks have become a constant concern for the Vietnamese national team's defense over the past six months under the Korean coach. In the matches against the Philippines and Thailand, Van Lam and his teammates conceded goals after free kicks from their opponents.
The period of V.League competition from the second half of October to mid-November is also the time when Mr. Kim and his colleagues study how to deal with the "dead ball" situation. Along with the defense, the need to exploit free kicks effectively is also something that the coaching staff of the Vietnam National Team is concerned about. The process of monitoring players taking free kicks at clubs, observing central defenders participating in attacks or keeping an eye on midfielders who can exploit second balls (finishing after the ball bounces) is the work that coach Kim Sang-sik has been doing in the recent period.
More effective from free kicks
After selecting players who meet the desired professional criteria, the training period in Korea is when coach Kim Sang-sik and his colleagues train the players in more fixed areas. The initial effectiveness brings value when the Vietnam team competes with Ulsan Citizen and Daegu FC.
Against Ulsan, the team scored in the 44th minute after a set-piece. Khuat Van Khang - who often takes set-pieces for the Vietnam Youth Team - was trusted. He made a cross into the penalty area for Bui Hoang Viet Anh to jump up and head the ball, making the Ulsan goalkeeper unable to catch the ball. Then, Tien Linh quickly rushed in to score the rebound, opening the game for the home team.
Against Daegu FC, the Vietnamese team continued to open the score at the end of the first half. Once again, Mr. Kim's students made a difference from a set piece situation. After a corner kick on the left wing, center back Bui Tien Dung passed the ball back to Quang Hai, who took a tricky low shot that defeated the opponent's goalkeeper.
The scenarios of the two goals that Vietnam scored above were similar. In the context of the team having difficulty in developing open play, a set-piece situation was the solution to change the situation. Looking at the way the Vietnam team created the goal, coach Kim Sang-sik clearly prepared carefully for different options to maximize the advantage from a free kick.
Accordingly, players with good free kick ability such as Hoang Duc, Quang Hai, Van Khang are thoroughly trained in passing the ball into the penalty area. Next, the central defenders will move up to join the attack. The goal of Viet Anh, Thanh Binh, Tan Tai or Tien Dung is to try to jump as high as possible, receive the pass from teammates to send the ball towards the goal.
Not stopping there, the “satellites” who can shoot from a distance, effectively using the second ball will intercept outside. In case the ball bounces back, they will be the ones to continue the situation to threaten the opponent’s goal.
Changes in the expertise of the Vietnam National Team through the prism of free kicks - initially brought results after friendly matches in Korea. Now it is time for Mr. Kim Sang-sik to bring this "weapon" to the AFF Cup 2024.
