Vietnam - Malaysia: Step to test the championship ambition

Malaysia is Vietnam's most familiar opponent in the AFF Cup, formerly known as the Tiger Cup, with 14 confrontations. The last time the two teams did not meet was 10 years ago, when Vietnam stopped in the group stage. Vietnam excelled in confrontation at the tournament with eight wins, three draws and three losses, of which the last five matches were unbeaten. In the group stage of the AFF Cup 2021, Vietnam also defeated Malaysia 3-0 in an overwhelming match.

However, Malaysia is showing progress under coach Kim Pan-gon. Since the appointment of the Korean coach in January 2022, they have only lost two out of 13 matches. In which, in the last four matches, Malaysia has won, scoring 13 goals and not conceding. Coach Kim reinforced the team's defense with a 5-4-1 defense system similar to Vietnam in the early years under Park Hang-seo. Winning Malaysia now may not be as easy as it was a year ago.

Vietnam is also on a six-match winning streak, since the draw against Japan in the final round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers. The team scored 18 goals and conceded only once during this period. The team's goal is to win the final tournament under Park, and the results against Malaysia, who are also in high form, will show some of the strength of Vietnam.

Malaysia lacks most of the key players from national champion Johor Darul Ta'zim (JDT) at the AFF Cup 2022, because this club refuses to let go. Therefore, coach Kim lacks pillars such as defender La'Vere Corbin-Ong, Syahmi Safari, midfielder Mohamadou Sumareh or striker Guilherme de Paula. But Coach Park still thinks that "the current Malaysian squad is the strongest".

This was Malaysia's third match in six days, but their mainstays were refreshed in the victory over Laos. The visitors' composition has three players born in England: central midfielders Stuart Wilkin, Lee Tuck and striker Darren Lok. In addition, coach Kim also has naturalized striker Sergio Ezequiel Aguero, although he may only play a substitute role. These "western" players help Malaysia maintain a balance despite the lack of JDT personnel.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has the strongest squad, with only one foreign-born player, goalkeeper Dang Van Lam. Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai recovered in time to be ready with Nguyen Hoang Duc to organize an attack for the host. Coach Park will need at least one of these two players to play at their best to hope to win three points.

Recently, Coach Park has tended to use a 5-3-2 system instead of 5-4-1. In the opening match of the AFF Cup 2022 against Laos, Phan Van Duc was ranked as a striker with Nguyen Tien Linh. In the midfield, Hoang Duc kicked the lowest, supporting Quang Hai and Do Hung Dung. In addition to Van Duc's position, which can be replaced by Pham Tuan Hai, the remaining four attacking players are almost certainly the main kick.

With the home field advantage, Vietnam needs to win against Malaysia to ensure the opportunity to continue, even if the draw is not a disaster. Park's teachers and students will still have to play Singapore in Kallang on December 30 and Myanmar in My Dinh three days later. These two teams are not as highly rated as Malaysia but still have the potential to surprise, especially with Singapore.

Before the match, coach Kim fueled the home team by saying that he "knows where the weakness of Vietnam is". Of course the host has a weakness, but the problem lies in whether Malaysia can exploit that grave.