Vietnam's national football team made an impressive start to their training camp in South Korea with a 6-0 victory over Siheung FC, but head coach Kim Sang Sik is looking far beyond the scoreline as he prepares his squad for the ASEAN Cup 2026.
The friendly, played on July 5 in Incheon, was Vietnam's first match of a carefully planned overseas training camp designed to steadily raise the team's competitive level before the regional tournament.
While the emphatic win offered encouraging signs, Kim Sang Sik's primary objective was to assess his players, refine tactical combinations and intensify competition for places in the national team.
Strong start in South Korea
Vietnam impressed in their opening training match in South Korea. Photo by Anh Doan.
Vietnam faced Siheung FC, a club competing in K League 3, in the opening match of the training camp.
Prioritizing squad evaluation over results, Kim Sang Sik fielded two entirely different line-ups, using one in each half to give every player an opportunity to impress.
Naturalized players Nguyen Xuan Son, Do Hoang Hen and Nguyen Tai Loc featured together in the second half alongside several established internationals.
Heavy rain affected the opening minutes of the match but did little to disrupt Vietnam's performance.
The visitors took the lead in just the second minute when Viet Cuong curled a right-footed shot into the top corner.
Vietnam continued to dominate possession and created a series of well-constructed attacking moves.
Hai Long doubled the advantage in the 31st minute before adding his second goal eight minutes later after being set up by Viet Cuong, giving Vietnam a comfortable 3-0 halftime lead.
Kim Sang Sik replaced his entire team after the break as part of his evaluation process.
The changes quickly paid off.
Do Hoang Hen scored from inside the penalty area in the 48th minute before completing his brace four minutes later after Nguyen Xuan Son broke through the defense and provided the assist.
Dinh Bac completed the scoring in the 83rd minute, sprinting beyond his marker before calmly finishing to seal a convincing 6-0 victory.
Rather than relying on a single standout performer, Vietnam's goals came from multiple players, reflecting a more varied attacking approach than in previous campaigns.
More than just the result
Although the victory provided a confidence boost, Kim Sang Sik is likely to take greater satisfaction from how the team functioned than from the final score itself.
The friendly served as an opportunity to evaluate the work completed during the opening phase of the training camp, including physical conditioning, tactical organization, transitions between attack and defense, and finishing efficiency.
Siheung FC may not represent elite opposition, but the match allowed the coaching staff to assess whether Vietnam had begun implementing the tactical principles developed during training.
For Kim Sang Sik, that assessment carries greater long-term value than the result alone.
A carefully planned progression
Kim Sang Sik wants more than just victories as Vietnam continue preparations. Photo by Anh Doan
Vietnam's schedule in South Korea has been deliberately structured around opponents of increasing quality.
After facing Siheung FC, the team will meet Yongin FC of K League 2 on July 8 before concluding the camp against Gangwon FC, a K League 1 side.
Each match presents a higher level of difficulty, enabling the coaching staff to gradually test the squad under increasing pressure.
As the standard of opposition improves, Vietnam will be challenged to maintain defensive organization, execute quicker transitions and demonstrate stronger tactical discipline.
Any remaining weaknesses should also become more apparent.
The progression reflects Kim Sang Sik's philosophy of preparing the team step by step rather than focusing on individual match results.
Every position is up for grabs
Beyond preparing for the ASEAN Cup, the training camp also represents one of the most important selection periods since Kim Sang Sik took charge.
For the first time in several years, Vietnam possess genuine competition across almost every position.
The emergence of promising young players alongside experienced internationals and newly naturalized footballers has created an environment in which no starting place is guaranteed.
Every performance in South Korea could influence the coach's final squad for the ASEAN Cup 2026.
Strong displays may move players closer to securing selection, while inconsistent performances could significantly reduce their chances as competition throughout the squad continues to intensify.
Kim Sang Sik has repeatedly emphasized that national team selection will be based solely on merit and current form, with opportunities available to any player capable of meeting his tactical requirements.
Bigger tests still to come
The emphatic victory over Siheung FC should therefore be viewed as only the beginning of Vietnam's preparations.
The upcoming matches against Yongin FC and Gangwon FC are expected to provide far more demanding examinations of the team's progress.
Those fixtures will offer a clearer indication of whether Vietnam can successfully execute Kim Sang Sik's tactical vision against stronger opponents while maintaining the intensity and consistency required for major international competition.
Ultimately, the South Korean coach is not seeking comfortable friendly victories.
His objective is to build a more complete, tactically disciplined and internally competitive Vietnam side capable of challenging for the ASEAN Cup 2026 and laying the foundation for future continental ambitions.
Vietnamnet.vn
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