Even conceding one goal to Malaysia, the Vietnam national team still secured a dominant 3-1 victory.

Coach Kim Sang Sik surprised by not employing a defensive midfielder, but the Vietnam national team still operated an efficient gameplay against Malaysia.

In the match against Malaysia, Coach Kim Sang Sik made a surprising tactical choice by not utilizing a dedicated defensive midfielder. Nevertheless, the Vietnam national team maintained smooth gameplay, even preserving a significant balance between attack and defense.

In the midfield, the trio of Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Quang Hai, and Nguyen Hai Long all lean towards technique and creativity, lacking strength in interception ability. This detail is surprising because in modern football, defensive midfielders play an extremely crucial role in ball recovery and "cleaning up" the central area. The absence of a proper "sweeper" often makes the tactical system prone to imbalance, especially against quick counterattacks.

However, the actual on-field situation unfolded differently. Center-back Do Duy Manh frequently advanced, almost taking on the role of a defensive midfielder at many moments. His ability to read situations, intercept passes, and contest effectively neutralized Malaysia's build-up plays right from the midfield area.

Not only Duy Manh, Tran Dinh Trong also displayed a similar style of play when entering the field. Both center-backs have backgrounds in midfield play, allowing them to adapt easily when the formation was pushed higher. This mobility significantly shared defensive pressure for the Vietnam national team's midfield, which leans towards attack.

Additionally, pressure from the forward line also played a crucial part. Nguyen Xuan Son and the wing players continuously applied pressure, forcing Malaysia's defense to stretch themselves in resistance. When opponents lack time to organize play, the space to exploit Vietnam's central area was almost eliminated.

This personnel arrangement demonstrates the flexibility in the tactical thinking of Coach Kim Sang Sik. Against weaker opponents, he prioritizes attack and ball control, while for tougher matches, the option of using a dedicated defensive midfielder is still considered. These experiments are opening up more effective operational directions for the Vietnam national team in the future.