As several veteran defenders struggle to maintain their peak form, the defensive line has become the biggest concern for coach Kim Sang Sik ahead of the next training camp of the Vietnam national team.

Growing concerns at the back

Under Kim Sang Sik, Vietnam have not conceded an excessive number of goals, yet the team has rarely been praised for defensive solidity.

Recent matches in which relatively weaker opponents such as Nepal and Cambodia managed to score against Vietnam illustrate the ongoing vulnerability at the back.

At the heart of the defense, experienced players like Duy Manh, Thanh Chung and Bui Tien Dung remain influential figures with strong voices in the dressing room.

However, it must be acknowledged that their performances are no longer as consistent as during their peak years.

The situation becomes even more worrying as Bui Tien Dung is unlikely to return in time for the FIFA Days training camp in March due to injury. With one crucial link potentially absent, the defensive concerns facing Kim Sang Sik grow even more serious, particularly as the Korean coach still lacks truly reliable alternatives at center-back.

Who can solve Kim Sang Sik’s defensive dilemma?

In recent plans, Kim Sang Sik has shown a desire to rejuvenate the defensive line gradually by integrating center-backs from the Vietnam U23 squad.

Names such as Ly Duc, Nhat Minh and Hieu Minh had been considered promising pieces for the near future.

However, that plan has encountered major obstacles. Ly Duc and Hieu Minh will be unavailable because of suspension and injury, leaving Nhat Minh as the only realistic young option.

With the U23 pipeline suddenly narrowing, the Korean coach must now look for other solutions to patch up the defense.

One name mentioned is Phi Long, a recently naturalized center-back.

In theory, he could be a suitable option thanks to his physical strength and imposing stature. In practice, however, significant questions remain. Since the beginning of the season, the Brazilian-born player has appeared in only two matches for SHB Da Nang, far too little playing time to evaluate his readiness, particularly at the national team level where coordination and understanding are crucial.

In this context, Doan Van Hau has unexpectedly emerged as a potential strategic option.

At club level, the Thai Binh-born player has recently been deployed as a left-sided center-back and has performed quite well. This could provide Kim Sang Sik with a temporary solution to his personnel problems.

Even so, the situation still requires careful consideration.

Van Hau has only recently returned from injury, and using him in a position that demands intense physical duels carries a certain level of risk.

Clearly, Vietnam’s defensive line currently presents many uncertainties, and how Kim Sang Sik manages to rebuild this part of the team could play a decisive role in shaping both the performance and results of the national side during the upcoming FIFA Days.

Duy Nguyen