The best - and biggest - concern

Vietnam conceded just three goals in eight matches at the 2026 ASEAN Cup, giving them the best defensive record in the tournament while also improving significantly on their own mark from the 2024 edition, when they let in six.

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Despite conceding the fewest goals in the tournament, Vietnam’s defense remains Kim Sang Sik’s biggest concern.

At first glance, the title they have just won owed much to that defensive solidity. Dig deeper into individual matches, however, and what appears to be a source of pride also emerges as one of Kim Sang Sik’s biggest concerns.

From the group stage through to the matches before the final, Vietnam conceded only once - in their 3-1 victory over Cambodia - yet their defense often looked surprisingly vulnerable.

Had their opponents not squandered so many chances, had the crossbar and posts not come to Vietnam’s rescue, or had Patrik Le Giang not produced a series of outstanding performances, six clean sheets would have been extremely difficult to achieve.

Kim himself acknowledged the problem in an interview after winning the ASEAN Cup.

“The defense needs more preparation. The teams we will face in the next tournament are very strong, so to be ready for them, our defense has to raise its level and work even harder,” he said.

The South Korean coach was certainly not making the point lightly, particularly if Vietnam hope to go far at the 2027 Asian Cup.

Other concerns remain

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Vietnam’s tendency to start matches slowly is another issue the South Korean coach needs to address.

In the same post-ASEAN Cup interview, Kim candidly admitted that his team consistently struggled in the first half, making matches more difficult than they needed to be.

His assessment was accurate, but it did not tell the whole story. Vietnam have struggled in the opening half under Kim since the 2024 ASEAN Cup - not merely in the tournament they have just completed.

It has been rare for Vietnam to settle smoothly into a match from the opening minutes. More often, they have only found their rhythm after halftime or following tactical adjustments from Kim.

Vietnam’s repeated pattern of enduring a stagnant, disjointed first half before accelerating in the second is not entirely a deliberate tactical approach. It also reflects the team’s limited ability to impose their style of play from the outset.

This is an issue the South Korean coach cannot afford to overlook for one simple reason: the opponents Vietnam will face on the road ahead will not be regional sides or teams considered weaker than them.

In other words, opponents at the 2027 Asian Cup such as South Korea, the UAE or Yemen will not simply wait for Kim to make his halftime adjustments. Nor are they weak enough for Vietnam to expect to overpower them in the second half.

If Vietnam want to dream bigger on the continental stage, something will have to change.

No team is perfect, of course. But when weaknesses become recurring problems - and grow increasingly serious over time - they become major issues that Kim must address sooner rather than later.

Duy Nguyen