Dinh Bac, Hoang Hen, Tai Loc, and Viet Anh have to train separately: Coach Kim is still worried about who will play on the left wing.

A 'storm' of injuries has emerged.

On the afternoon of October 4th, the Vietnamese national team continued training at the Gelora Bung Karno sports complex to prepare for the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 third-place match against Malaysia. Besides the two injured players, Hoang Hen and Viet Anh, as reported by Thanh Nien newspaper , two more players had to train separately: attacking stars Dinh Bac and Tai Loc.

It's very likely that Dinh Bac and Tai Loc are overloaded and need to recover in order to play tomorrow. However, coach Kim Sang-sik also needs to consider the "worst-case scenario." In that case, the Vietnamese team would only have Ngo Dang Khoa and Nguyen Hai Long as their attacking options.

Clearly, regardless of who is used, the attacking power of the Vietnamese team has significantly decreased, especially on the left flank, where Dinh Bac is proving to be too sharp and dangerous. At this point, coach Kim Sang-sik needs a left-back to provide more attacking support. He will have to consider between Cao Pendant Quang Vinh and Phan Tuan Tai, two players with contrasting playing styles.

Everyone has weaknesses.

Tuan Tai's defensive shortcomings are nothing new. Even under coach Philippe Troussier, this defender has repeatedly shown a lack of solidity in direct confrontations, with his speed, stamina, and one-on-one tackling ability not being particularly outstanding compared to other left-backs or left-sided center-backs.

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

This was quite evident in Vietnam's conceded goal against Thailand in the group stage of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. Of course, Sarach Yooyen's long-range shot was too difficult and too unexpected to blame the defense. But in the preceding challenge, Tuan Tai's familiar weaknesses reappeared. He was beaten by a Thai player, who then passed the ball into the penalty area, leading to Sarach Yooyen's goal. Shortly after, Tuan Tai had to leave the field after the first half, making way for Cao Pendant Quang Vinh to return to the left-back position to ensure defensive solidity.

However, the story completely reversed in the match against Pakistan. When Cao Pendant Quang Vinh failed to make a difference in attack, Tuan Tai was brought on at the start of the second half and immediately proved his worth: first, he provided an assist for Hai Long, then he passed the ball to Dinh Bac to score. Not only that, Tuan Tai also contributed significantly to Vietnam's attack with long passes and quality crosses, something Cao Pendant Quang Vinh rarely did. The French-born left-back's strength lies in his consistency and reliability.

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

What is the optimal solution?

From what has been shown, it's clear that this is a balancing act between solidity and unpredictability. Given the Vietnamese defense's problems, such as Viet Anh's injury and numerous weaknesses and a lack of cohesion, and the fact that Malaysia is significantly stronger than they were in the 2026 ASEAN Cup, coach Kim Sang-sik will likely prioritize safety.

Accordingly, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh will be named in the starting lineup to ensure the necessary solidity on the left flank against a formidable opponent. Only when the game becomes deadlocked and the Vietnamese team needs a fresh impetus to boost their attack should Tuan Tai be brought onto the field.

This is a sensible use of personnel, taking advantage of Cao Pendant Quang Vinh's stability in the early stages of the match while saving the attacking option of Tuan Tai for crucial moments, exactly like the scenario that proved effective in the match against Pakistan.