Which playing style will Coach Kim Sang-sik choose for the Vietnam national team to counter Malaysia?

Coach Kim Sang-sik remains famous for his unexpected personnel decisions in the Vietnam squad. In the ASEAN Cup 2026, his starting lineups in several matches, particularly the last two group stage games, surprised many fans.

In the match against hosts Indonesia, Coach Kim Sang-sik surprisingly benched Xuan Son, Hoang Hen, and captain Quang Hai. Despite an unusual lineup, Vietnam secured an impressive 3-0 victory at Pakansari Stadium.

In the home match against Cambodia at My Dinh Stadium, the Korean coach brought Quang Hai back into the starting lineup and left all three naturalized strikers on the bench. Vietnam struggled in this match, barely managing a 3-1 win over an opponent that had no more motivation.

Through the group stage matches of the ASEAN Cup 2026, it is clear that Vietnam plays well only when employing a counter-attacking style rather than possession-based football. Which tactic will Coach Kim Sang-sik choose against Malaysia at the 'cauldron' of Kuala Lumpur in the semifinal

In this match, Vietnam is rated higher than Malaysia due to squad quality, but how to approach the game is something the Korean manager must calculate to achieve maximum effectiveness.

In the group stage, when facing a disciplined defensive opponent like Singapore, Coach Kim Sang-sik's team struggled to score while playing possession football. In that match, despite having 17 shots, Vietnam only managed 3 on target and failed to score a single goal.

Similarly, in the last group stage match against Cambodia, it was further evidence of Vietnam's failure when trying to impose their game. In this match, Coach Kim Sang-sik's team controlled 75% possession, had 14 shots, but only 5 were on target.

However, when opting for a counter-attacking style and accepting the underdog role against Indonesia, Vietnam secured a convincing 3-0 victory.

It's not just the Indonesia match in the group stage of the ASEAN Cup 2026; in the past, Vietnam has often played well when in the underdog role against opponents of equal or greater strength. With this style, their quick transitions from defense to attack make them much more dangerous.

The outcomes from these two playing styles are what Coach Kim Sang-sik must consider for the upcoming first leg semifinal against Malaysia. Clearly, Vietnam is not yet capable of completely dominating opponents in Southeast Asia. On the other hand, playing at home, Malaysia will be the team that needs to attack to find a win.

History heavily favors Vietnam with 9 wins and 1 draw in their last 10 encounters with Malaysia. The Tigers once defeated the Golden Star Warriors 4-0 in the first leg of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, but sanctions from FIFA and AFC for violating naturalized player rules in that match resulted in a 0-3 loss for them.

In the second leg, Malaysia lost 1-3 to Vietnam. That defeat triggered a major overhaul in Malaysian football. Coach Tan Cheng Hoe was appointed on an interim basis, and the Malaysian squad now has only a few naturalized players like Aguero and Josue. The current team consists mostly of young players.

In Group B of the ASEAN Cup 2026, Malaysia earned 9 points from 4 matches, with their only loss coming against Thailand. Their attack has not been outstanding, scoring only 7 goals, but their defense has been relatively solid, conceding just 3 goals.

Malaysia's playing style under Coach Tan Cheng Hoe has become pragmatic. When needed, they drop deep into a massed defense and wait for opportunities to launch quick attacks into the spaces behind the opponent's midfield.

Compared to Vietnam, Malaysia is considered the underdog in the semifinal. However, their performances in the group stage show that they are not an easy opponent for Coach Kim Sang-sik's team.

The match between Malaysia and Vietnam will take place on August 16. In the knockout stage, there is no room for error. And clearly, playing counter-attacking football against Malaysia should be prioritized to secure an advantage for Vietnam before the rematch at My Dinh.

Coach Kim Sang-sik may opt for a safe approach, waiting for the decisive match at My Dinh. However, with abundant resources, the possibility of Vietnam adopting a bold strategy right in Kuala Lumpur cannot be ruled out. There will be no room for mistakes like in the group stage. The semifinals will be heavy battles of wits and stamina. Every mistake, no matter how small, could be punished by the opponent and come at a great cost.

What starting lineup and playing style Vietnam will use against Malaysia will remain mere speculation, because Coach Kim Sang-sik always has surprising squad arrangements and game approaches.