Major gaps in Vietnam's attack

Vietnam's attacking lineup has become a major concern for head coach Kim Sang Sik, with several key forwards dealing with fitness problems, injuries or difficulties rediscovering their best form.

Adding to the challenge is Dinh Bac's suspension for the first two group-stage matches of the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, forcing Kim to consider alternative options.

In theory, with nearly three months remaining before the tournament kicks off, players such as Tai Loc and Xuan Son still have time to regain their sharpness and return to their highest level.

That is certainly what Kim hopes for, but relying on their recovery cannot form the basis of Vietnam's preparations for Asia's premier national team competition.

The concern is not simply their injury history. So far, only Tai Loc has returned, while Xuan Son and Hoang Hen have yet to make their comebacks.

Their availability for the crucial national team training camp in early November therefore remains uncertain.

With another three months of V-League football ahead, the possibility of further injuries to national team players cannot be ruled out.

Kim has even less reason to wait and hope everything falls into place.

Vietnam cannot simply wait for key players to return

Vietnam's two friendly matches in November will provide Kim with an important opportunity to test new attacking personnel and explore how his team can operate without its established stars.

These are problems Vietnam must address before the Asian Cup, rather than waiting until they face opponents such as the United Arab Emirates or South Korea to find solutions.

An attack without clear alternatives, both in personnel and tactical approach, will struggle to make an impact, regardless of how many forwards are included in the squad.

Kim must recognize that finding a direct replacement for Xuan Son or Dinh Bac is not necessarily the answer. There is no guarantee that another player can reproduce what either of them brings to the team.

More importantly, the coach needs to adjust Vietnam's attacking approach so that the available players can make the most of their own strengths, rather than being asked to perform roles designed for someone else.

Vietnam still have time to prepare, but that time should not be spent waiting for uncertain returns.

Xuan Son may recover in time. Hoang Hen could regain full fitness. Tai Loc may settle back into the team's playing style.

Yet none of those outcomes is guaranteed.

If everything goes according to plan, Kim will have more attacking options at his disposal. If not, he must already have a workable alternative ready.

That Plan B needs to take shape during the November training camp, with reliable forwards who are fit, ready to play and capable of challenging the established attackers for places in the team.

It will not be an easy task for Kim, particularly after relying so heavily on his preferred attacking options over the past two years.

But however difficult the process may be, Vietnam must develop greater tactical flexibility if they want to compete effectively at the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.

Duy Nguyen