After their comeback victory against Pakistan, the Vietnamese team faces a major challenge: will Kim Sang Sik's team have what it takes to close out the tournament with a win?
By defeating Pakistan 4-2, the Vietnamese team finished second in Group B and qualified for the third-place match against Malaysia .
The victory against Pakistan brought many positive signs, especially regarding coach Kim Sang Sik's ability to change the course of the game. After a lack of focus in the first half and conceding a goal, the South Korean coach made personnel changes in the second half.
The players who came off the bench immediately injected new energy, helping Vietnam play more proactively and score a series of important goals.
That's precisely what Malaysia should be wary of.
However, Vietnam cannot afford to be complacent.
Malaysia is not an opponent to be underestimated.
Compared to Malaysia, a team Vietnam has faced before, this team has undergone many changes in its squad. Coach Kim Sang Sik himself acknowledged this difference, but he believes Vietnam needs to focus on its own preparation rather than being overly concerned about the changes on the opponent's side.
This could be an important approach ahead of a match where the gap between the two teams isn't too large.
Malaysia has the potential to put strong pressure on Vietnam, especially given their fitness issues. The schedule only allows the entire team two days of rest before the third-place match.
In hot weather conditions, this is certainly a difficult problem for the coaching staff to solve.
50%, 55%, or higher?
Based on recent performances, the ability to turn the game around, and the current squad quality, Vietnam's chances of winning within 90 minutes can be estimated at around 50-55%.
In other words, this is a match where Vietnam has a chance to win, but the margin isn't large enough to consider victory almost certain.
This number can vary significantly depending on the starting lineup, fitness level, and how both teams approach the game.
The more focused Vietnam can maintain in the first half, the better their chances of winning. Conversely, if they continue to allow the opponent to exploit defensive gaps, Kim Sang Sik's team could face difficulties.
The key lies in Vietnam's ability to maintain the intensity of their play throughout the 90 minutes.
Coach Kim Sang Sik wants to turn the third-place match into a "final".
It is noteworthy that coach Kim Sang Sik did not view this as a mere formality.
"We will still approach the next match as if it were a final," Kim Sang Sik affirmed.
This message shows that Vietnam's goal is not just to finish the tournament, but also to win the final match.
At the same time, coach Kim Sang Sik also left open the possibility of giving opportunities to players who haven't played much. With a packed schedule, making the right use of the squad could be the key to success.
A deep squad will help Vietnam maintain pace and intensity in the match, instead of relying entirely on players who have already played at a high frequency.
A battle of character
Vietnam has demonstrated its ability to bounce back strongly after falling behind to Pakistan. But Malaysia will be a different challenge.
This is a match where character, physical fitness, and the ability to capitalize on opportunities can decide the outcome.
Coach Kim Sang Sik has set a very clear objective: to treat Malaysia as a final match.
And if we had to give a benchmark before kick-off, Vietnam has about a 50-55% chance of winning within 90 minutes.
But the remaining 45-50% is what makes this match worth waiting for.
Malaysia will certainly not step onto the field to play the role of "the loser." And Vietnam will have to prove that Kim Sang Sik's declaration of a "final match" is not just empty words.
The Vietnamese national team will face Malaysia in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 third-place match at 4:00 PM on October 5th at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta.
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/viet-nam-co-bao-nhieu-co-hoi-gianh-chien-thang-truoc-malaysia.html
