The Vietnamese national team concluded their FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 group stage campaign with a 4-2 victory over Pakistan. However, this match also caused concern for coach Kim Sang-sik as Bui Hoang Viet Anh and Do Hoang Hen had to leave the field due to physical problems.
Viet Anh was substituted in the second half after showing signs of pain in his thigh. The central defender was then replaced by Adou Minh. Meanwhile, Hoang Hen was also unable to play the entire match due to a similar problem.
There is currently no final conclusion regarding the extent of the injuries to the two players. Their availability for the third-place match therefore depends on further examinations and assessments from the medical team.
Adding another personnel challenge for coach Kim Sang-sik.
The absence of Viet Anh, if it occurs, will affect the personnel selection in the Vietnamese national team's defense. The 1999-born center-back is one of the players regularly used by coach Kim Sang-sik when included in the matchday squad.
Further up the field, Hoang Hen is also a noteworthy option in the Vietnamese national team's attacking lineup. However, his injury may force coach Kim Sang-sik to reconsider his personnel for the team's final match of the tournament.
This is not the first time the Vietnamese national team has faced personnel issues at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. Before the tournament, Nguyen Quang Hai was unable to participate due to a left ankle injury. Nguyen Xuan Son was also unable to continue playing after suffering a hamstring problem.
In this context, the condition of Viet Anh and Hoang Hen will be a matter of particular concern for Vietnamese national team fans in the coming days.
They will face Malaysia again in the third-place match.
After the group stage concludes, the Vietnamese national team will play Malaysia in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 third-place match. The match is scheduled to take place at 4 PM on October 5th at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, Indonesia.
This is a notable rematch, as the Vietnam and Malaysia national teams previously met in the semi-finals of the 2026 ASEAN Cup. In that encounter, the Vietnam team won with a total score of 4-0.
However, the third-place match is a completely different affair, as both teams have come a long way in the tournament. For the Vietnamese team, preserving their strength in the final days will be especially important, particularly with several players currently dealing with injuries.
Coach Kim Sang-sik will have to wait for the specific test results before making a decision on whether to use Viet Anh and Hoang Hen. If these two players do not recover in time, the Vietnamese national team will need alternative options for the final match at the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 .
Source: https://hoahoctro.tienphong.vn/dt-viet-nam-tranh-hang-ba-fifa-asean-cup-nguy-co-vang-mat-2-tru-cot-quan-trong-post1881785.tpo
