Vietnam finished top of Group A with 10 points from four matches, winning three and drawing one. Kim Sang Sik’s side scored 13 goals while conceding just once, underlining the defending champions’ strong form ahead of their semifinal showdown with Malaysia.

One statistic stands out in particular: Vietnam attempted 74 shots during the group stage, the highest total among all 10 teams in the competition.

The figure reflects the variety of attacking options available to Kim, with Dinh Bac and his teammates consistently creating opportunities and putting opposing defenses under pressure.

By comparison, semifinal opponents Malaysia registered 44 shots and scored seven goals, for a conversion rate of 15.91%.

Vietnam also averaged 57.6% possession, reflecting their ability to take control of matches and dictate play. Defensively, the team attempted 56 tackles and won 32 of them.

Overall, Vietnam emerged from the group stage with both the competition’s most productive attack and its strongest defense.

Their impressive run extends beyond this tournament. The “Golden Star Warriors” are now unbeaten in 22 matches under Kim Sang Sik, recording 19 wins and three draws.

Fans turn My Dinh into a sea of red

Vietnam’s dominance has not been limited to what happens on the pitch.

The national team also attracted the highest average attendance of any side during the ASEAN Cup 2026 group stage.

Matches involving Vietnam drew an average of 25,599 spectators, the highest figure in the tournament. The support of the team’s “12th player” regularly transformed My Dinh National Stadium into a sea of red and became one of the defining images of the group stage.

Although average attendance represented around 63.7% of My Dinh’s capacity, Vietnam still led the competition in actual spectator numbers thanks to the stadium’s size and the strong interest surrounding the national team.

Indonesia ranked second with an average of 24,875 spectators per match. While it did not match Vietnam in total attendance, Indonesia led the tournament in stadium occupancy, with matches at Pakansari Stadium filling around 83% of available seats.

Cambodia ranked third with an average attendance of 17,169, followed by Thailand with 14,532 and Malaysia with 11,389.

At the other end, the Philippines, Singapore, Laos and Timor Leste drew the smallest crowds. Timor Leste averaged just 192 spectators per match, with the team using Chonburi Stadium in Thailand as its home venue.

Quang Hai under pressure ahead of Malaysia test

Despite Vietnam’s impressive overall numbers, not every individual performance has escaped scrutiny.

Captain Quang Hai has faced criticism over his displays during the ASEAN Cup group stage, even as he reached a major personal milestone by surpassing Cong Vinh to become Vietnam’s most-capped player with 84 appearances.

The achievement reflects remarkable longevity for the 29-year-old midfielder, almost a decade after he emerged as one of the most recognizable figures of a generation of Vietnamese footballers.

Yet his influence at ASEAN Cup 2026 has not reached the level many supporters have come to expect.

Quang Hai has produced memorable goals and decisive moments for Vietnam throughout his career, but his past achievements cannot entirely shield him from criticism of his current performances.

Center-back Thanh Chung, however, has publicly defended his captain.

“I think people should give him the recognition he deserves. For the entire team and coaching staff, and for people who genuinely love football, Quang Hai is always appreciated,” Thanh Chung said.

“In any team, there will always be players who receive criticism, and those are often the big players. I believe Quang Hai, like any other player, will overcome it. We don’t pay attention to negativity.”

For Quang Hai, the semifinal against Malaysia now offers an opportunity to provide the most convincing response of all: one delivered on the pitch.

A strong performance in a major knockout match could quickly shift the conversation, particularly if the captain can help the defending champions move another step closer to retaining their title.

Malaysia pose a threat despite Vietnam’s superior record

Vietnam enter the semifinals unbeaten, while Malaysia finished second in Group B with nine points from four matches.

Recent history favors Kim’s side. In the teams’ most recent meeting, during the final round of qualifying for the 2027 Asian Cup in March, Vietnam defeated Malaysia 3-1.

Vietnam are therefore regarded as favorites over the two semifinal legs, but the group stage also exposed areas that Kim and his coaching staff will want to address.

The team’s attacking options were not always efficient in the draw against Singapore, while defending against counterattacks also caused problems. In the 3-1 victory over Cambodia, lapses in concentration at the back resulted in the only goal Vietnam conceded during the group stage.

Thanh Chung acknowledged that the defensive mistake against Cambodia was something the team had not wanted, but stressed that Vietnam’s performance should be judged across the entire group-stage campaign.

The defender also believes preparation will be crucial against Malaysia.

“I think by now everyone in the team knows how we need to prepare for the semifinal. The coaching staff will analyze video with us, and we will have meetings to prepare our approach,” he said.

“For me, once we have set the highest target, it does not matter who we face. We always have absolute respect for our opponents and will give everything to successfully defend the championship.”

Malaysia, meanwhile, have gradually rediscovered greater cohesion and a clearer playing identity under coach Tan Cheng Hoe.

“In football, you can never predict what will happen,” Tan said. “When we are considered the underdogs, it can actually give us a certain psychological freedom.

“Our task over the next few days is to help the players recover physically, carefully analyze Vietnam’s style of play and prepare our tactics. I believe the coming match will be very interesting.”

Malaysia’s players and coaching staff know Vietnam well, and with home advantage in the first leg, they will be determined to secure a favorable result before traveling to Hanoi.

Kim therefore has reason to approach the tie cautiously.

After four group matches, the South Korean coach has a clearer picture of his strongest lineup and how different combinations can be used against specific opponents. But knockout football leaves far less room for mistakes.

Vietnam have already experienced the pressure of playing away from home during their match against Indonesia, but the challenge in Malaysia could demand an even greater level of concentration.

Mistakes that can be corrected during the group stage can carry a much heavier price in a semifinal.

Vietnam visit Malaysia for the first leg on August 16 before the teams meet again at My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on August 19.

With 74 shots, 13 goals, just one conceded and an unbeaten run stretching to 22 matches under Kim, the numbers provide Vietnam with plenty of confidence.

The semifinal, however, will determine how much those numbers truly count.

Dai Nam