The key to victory for the Vietnam national team

In the quest for victory during the FIFA Days in March, coach Kim Sang Sik not only relies on collective play but also places high hopes on "golden boys" who have a knack for scoring and shine at the right moment.

Under coach Kim Sang Sik, the Vietnam national team has demonstrated that it does not rely entirely on a fixed center-forward.

Instead, goals can come from various positions, from midfielders to defenders. This creates unpredictability in their approach to matches and opens opportunities for seemingly less prominent names to become decisive factors.

The most notable among the "golden boys" is Nguyen Van Vi. Though a defender, Van Vi possesses impressive scoring efficiency. Perhaps due to his affinity with the national team, despite recent fluctuations, Van Vi has still been called up.

Over the past two years underCoach Kim Sang Sik, Van Vi has scored 5 goals for the Vietnam national team, a number many forwards would dream of.

Confidence, timely runs, and decisive finishing have turnedVan Viinto a special "ace" in tactical plans.

Besides Van Vi, Hai Long is also a notable name. The Hanoi FC player not only has good technique but also the ability to finish with both feet.

Under coach Kim Sang Sik, Hai Long has scored 5 goals for the Vietnam national team, becoming one of the most effective scorers.

He is also performing well at club level, helping Hanoi FC return to the championship race. More importantly,Hai Longis given a fairly free role in the attack, allowing flexible movement and maximizing his scoring ability.

In defense, Xuan Manh is also a name worthy of trust. The right defender of Hanoi FC is maintaining stable form and has made an impact with a goal against Nepal in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

In the context of modern football requiring defenders to participate in attack, Xuan Manh can fully become a disruptive factor from the back line. Moreover, Xuan Manh is also ready to play as a center-back.

Khuat Van Khang brings youthful energy and effective contribution to the attack. With 3 recent goals for the national team and 3 at club level,Van Khangis one of the few players maintaining high form after the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

His dynamism, enthusiasm, and good finishing ability make him likely to become one of the rare U23 players starting in the upcoming lineup.

The most anticipated name remainsXuan Son. Despite a minor injury, the 29-year-old forward has recovered and is expected to be ready to play against Bangladesh.

Xuan Son is at the peak of his career, with 9 goals in 10 matches for Nam Dinh FC this season and 8 goals for the national team since the 2024 ASEAN Cup. More importantly, he is no longer isolated, surrounded by capable supporting satellites like Van Vi, Hai Long, or Quang Hai.

Particularly, the presence of Hoang Hen this time may help Xuan Son receive more scoring opportunities. Hoang Hen has also made his mark on the Vietnam national team by fulfilling his dream of naturalization to wear the "Golden Star Warriors" jersey.

The simultaneous emergence of many "golden boys" presents coach Kim Sang Sik with an interesting yet promising challenge: how to combine them most effectively, not only to create goals but also to maintain balance in play.

The match against Bangladesh will be an opportunity for experimentation, while the encounter with Malaysia is the real test. The fact that the Vietnam national team possesses many players with a scoring knack across different positions is a positive sign.