How should the Vietnamese team play against Malaysia?

The victory still leaves many gaps.

A 4-2 victory, after falling behind, is usually enough to bring a sense of relief. Vietnam has accomplished its mission, staged a comeback, and most importantly, still has one more match to conclude the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 .

But if we only look at the score, we might miss the most important aspect of this match. The Vietnamese team won against Pakistan, but the opponent has left us with questions that we cannot avoid.

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

Coach Kim Sang-sik 's team didn't start well. With Pakistan playing defensively, waiting for counter-attacking opportunities, Vietnam struggled to find space. The team controlled possession but failed to create enough pressure and even conceded a goal first.

It wasn't until the second half, when personnel and tactical adjustments took effect, that Vietnam truly exploded. Hai Long equalized, Hoang Duc put the team ahead, Dinh Bac scored again, and Minh Hoang sealed the 4-2 victory.

That's the positive side. But there's also another side: why did Vietnam have to wait until the second half to find a solution against a supposedly weaker opponent?

This isn't a question to diminish the value of the victory. On the contrary, it needs to be asked precisely because Vietnam wants to go further. For example, a 4-2 win might lead people to think that the attack played well, the morale was high, and everything was settled.

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

But the recent victory simultaneously highlighted both triumphs and warnings. Vietnam still has moments of lapses in concentration in defense. Their ability to handle opponent pressure isn't always consistent. When opponents proactively drop deep, Vietnam's attacking options are sometimes disorganized.

These are issues that need to be addressed directly, especially with Malaysia ahead. Because if Pakistan was able to cause Vietnam difficulties for a considerable period, then the third-place match will be a completely different challenge.

How should the team play against Malaysia?

The last three matches have painted a fairly clear picture: Vietnam still has the ability to control the game and possesses players who can make a difference, but consistency is not yet truly convincing. More notably, the absence of Xuan Son is a significant loss for the attack, so the coaching staff is still looking for alternative options.

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

Against Malaysia, the most important thing is that the players need to recover quickly. The Malaysian team now is very different from the team we faced in the AFF Cup. They have some new players, who are more skillful and powerful. Therefore, the entire team's physical condition must be truly excellent, and their bodies must have abundant energy to be able to play well for 90 minutes.

Another key issue is cohesion. This is the real challenge, as the team's performance in all three matches showed a certain degree of disarray. In some games, they dominated but failed to impose their will. In others, they controlled possession but couldn't control the game. In still others, their play was lackluster and lacked cohesion.

The most obvious reason is that Vietnam has a different lineup in each match, with nearly half of the positions being replaced. The replacements haven't adapted well enough, resulting in a lack of stability. Because of this lack of cohesion between the lines, the playing style only shines at certain moments, but overall it hasn't taken off.

PHOTO: NGOC LINH

To overcome this, the players need to play a more resilient and courageous game. The style of play requires a demonstration of both skill and individual performance. To achieve this, all three lines of players, as well as the substitutes, must be mentally prepared. They may have to exert themselves for the full 90 minutes because the opponent is not afraid to compete physically. Therefore, maintaining a stable mindset is paramount.

The team has only one match left before bidding farewell to the FIFA ASEAN Cup. They just need to overcome their weaknesses, find a stable core team despite personnel shortages, and play with more passion against Malaysia. That will be the starting point for a new cycle, aiming strongly for the ASIAN Cup finals.