Commentator Quang Huy: 'Vietnam national team paves the way to the final'

The big advantage after the first leg of the semifinal gives the Vietnam national team more than half of the ticket to the final. But the remaining half, in the second leg, will still be where courage, caution, and class speak before the vision of a 'dream final' with Thailand officially becomes reality.

Before the second leg of the semifinal against Malaysia at My Dinh Stadium, commentator Vu Quang Huy shared his thoughts on the journey of coach Kim Sang Sik's team at the ASEAN Cup 2026: 'There are still some "scratches", but the Vietnam national team still wins thanks to strong composure, pragmatic tactics, and the necessary frugality to turn opportunities into goals.'

Under the strategic hand of coach Kim Sang Sik, the Vietnam national team presents a pragmatic and resilient face. Instead of chasing flashy statistics about possession rates, Vietnam chooses to control the game through maximum efficiency and cunning tactical traps.

The secret to Vietnam's success is the purposeful 'trap-setting' philosophy as well as the adaptability and flexibility in each match and each moment. Coach Kim Sang Sik does not require his players to play aggressively or dominate at all costs. Instead, he actively gives ground to the opponent at certain times to preserve energy and 'lure' the opponent to push up their formation. When the opponent starts to 'get drunk' and reveals deadly gaps, that is when Vietnam launches sharp counterattacks to punish them.

* Does that also mean that coach Kim Sang Sik's philosophy of adaptability and flexible rotation has been effective?

- To smoothly operate the calculated style of play, coach Kim Sang Sik has been subtle in arranging personnel for each specific scenario. At times when the game needs to be cooled down or the tempo maintained to preserve the score, he trusts players with individual technique and excellent ball retention like Hoang Hen or Tai Loc.

Meanwhile, striker Xuan Son plays the role of an important 'transit station'. His ability to hold up the ball, shield, and retain possession gives the surrounding satellites enough time to push up and support, creating a tight link between the lines.

Conversely, when switching to a counter-attacking defensive state, Dinh Bac and Hai Long become irreplaceable strategic cards. These two players possess good speed and also provide fierce defensive support. They are ready to drop deep to contest, win the ball, and execute explosive runs to quickly penetrate the opponent's defense.

* What are the highlights seen in the playing style of the Vietnam national team?

- The Vietnam national team shows clear progress in the ability to control the game. Factors like Le Pham Thanh Long or Hai Long, when given the opportunity, have seized it fully, creating a disciplined, versatile, and unpredictable collective.

In goal, Le Giang Patrik affirms his number one status with a consistent performance throughout the past matches. The top-level experience and extraordinary reflexes of Le Giang have brought the necessary peace of mind against the intense pressure from opponents.

Up front, the smoothly operating 3-4-3 formation continues to be trusted. The trio of central defenders Nguyen Thanh Chung, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, and Pham Xuan Manh have played with consistent form. Thanh Chung acts as the defensive commander thanks to his excellent reading of the game. Viet Anh uses his ideal physique as a right-sided center-back, while Xuan Manh takes the left-sided position to form a solid defensive wall.

In the midfield area, Nguyen Hoang Duc continues to play the role of conductor, regulating the tempo and delivering sharp through-balls. To free up space for Hoang Duc to create, coach Kim Sang Sik positions Le Pham Thanh Long as his partner in the 'anchor' role.

Thanh Long stands out with his interception ability, long-range duels, and long-distance attack initiation. On the flanks, Nguyen Van Vi and Truong Tien Anh provide abundant energy, ensuring quick transitions between defense and attack.

* Overall, does the Vietnam national team still leave gaps and limitations that need to be quickly adjusted?

Besides the victory, the Vietnam national team's defense still reveals worrying gaps. This is a clear warning against a high-caliber opponent in the final. The fact shows that we make too many mistakes in wide defensive situations, especially when the opponent exploits the space between the full-back and the wide center-back. In the first leg of the semifinal, Malaysia clearly saw our weakness. They exploited it heavily, and Vietnam would have conceded if Le Giang had not been outstanding. With plays where they lack speed and turning ability, Bui Hoang Viet Anh and his teammates must be extremely cautious against Malaysia in the second leg.

And there is another difficult problem for coach Kim Sang Sik. The Vietnam national team is still better at counter-attacking and lurking, waiting for the right moment, rather than imposing and attacking systematically. Overall, building strength based on a gritty and pragmatic collective is helping Vietnam maintain optimal performance in cup tournaments. Although it has not yet brought absolutely explosive performances, the current composure and efficiency remain a solid foundation for the goal of defending the championship.

* Despite suffering a 0-2 defeat at home, Malaysia's coach Tan Cheng Hoe affirms that his team has not given up? This forces the Vietnam national team to be extremely cautious for the rematch?

- Playing at home and with the squad in better form, the Vietnam national team is highly rated in this second leg of the semifinal. However, do not forget that coach Kim Sang Sik's players often do not perform well when returning to My Dinh in the two group stage matches of this year's tournament. Accordingly, the matches against Singapore and Cambodia are evidence. Therefore, Vietnam must be very cautious in hosting Malaysia in this second leg.

Don't forget that when their backs are against the wall, the Harimau tigers always know how to make things difficult for their opponents. We just hope that does not trouble coach Kim Sang Sik's team in this match. Playing away, Vietnam won with courage, but caution and not underestimating the opponent must always be remembered in this game.

Holding a 2-goal advantage, the Vietnam national team enters the second leg at home in My Dinh with absolute psychological initiative. The task of having to push forward to find a goal will force Malaysia to advance, which will open up space for coach Kim Sang Sik's favored counter-attacking style. Possibly, Vietnam will continue to win to reach the final.

* Thank you very much for the conversation!