Expert Doan Minh Xuong: 'The Vietnam national team will prove their mettle'

Expert Doan Minh Xuong states that Vietnam's careful preparation, both in terms of personnel and psychology, positions them to achieve a positive outcome in the first leg away, building momentum for the decisive battle at My Dinh for a final berth.

Expert Doan Minh Xuong remarks: "The seamless integration of a resilient domestic core and high-quality naturalized players has formed a united, adaptable squad with a completely new look. This will enable Vietnam to enter the away semifinal first leg with great confidence.

In their recent matches, Vietnam has shown consistent form, balancing explosive attack with necessary pragmatism. Kim Sang Sik's side has proven their dominance in Group A. Their fast-paced combination play allows the forwards to repeatedly exploit the opponent's defense, with players like Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Hoang Duc, and Do Hoang Hen displaying outstanding chemistry.

On the other hand, Malaysia enters the knockout stage with a relaxed mindset after overcoming the Philippines. Shedding pressure allows young players such as Pavithran to play more confidently. Coach Tan Cheng Hoe, who knows Vietnamese football well after years of encounters, understands the danger of the Vietnam team. He has publicly indicated that Malaysia voluntarily yields the 'favorite' status to Kim Sang Sik's side. This can be seen as a psychological tactic aimed at Vietnam.

When Coach Tan Cheng Hoe asserts that Malaysia is the underdog against Vietnam, he is not only showing respect for the opponent but also applying a familiar psychological strategy to relieve pressure on his players. In top-level football, the mindset of the 'favorite' always carries a huge burden of expectation.

This intentional downplaying of their status suggests that Malaysia will cede control of the match to Vietnam, allowing them to deploy a deep defensive block and patiently wait for opportunities. As Vietnam pushes forward in search of a goal, the gaps behind their defense will become prime targets for Malaysia's fast wingers. Coach Kim Sang Sik is surely aware of this and has prepared plans to counter the opponent's play."

Expert Doan Minh Xuong notes that the trio of naturalized players Xuan Son, Hoang Hen, and Tai Loc will bring tactical diversity for Coach Kim Sang Sik in the match against Malaysia: "This is where Vietnam differs from other regional teams using naturalized players. For instance, Indonesia boasts quality naturalized players from Europe but sometimes shows a lack of collective cohesion. In contrast, Vietnam's naturalized players have spent a long time competing in and understanding the V-League environment, allowing the group chemistry to mature instantly.

We see that Thailand maintains their traditional possession-based style but lacks explosiveness in aerial duels and physical battles. Malaysia relies heavily on individual bursts of speed. Vietnam is more balanced by combining the technical thinking of midfielders, the physical strength of strikers, and discipline in defensive cover.

A playing style that does not depend on any individual makes it impossible for opponents to prepare fixed countermeasures, because they don't know who will start and who will be the 'trump card' coming off the bench.

In summary, the strength of Vietnam at the 2026 ASEAN Cup does not lie in a single individual, but in the combined efforts of groups of players across all lines. The cohesive team play, tactical understanding, and high team spirit are the stepping stones for Vietnam to achieve a favorable result away in the semifinal first leg."