Kim Sang-sik and the Sprint Against Time: Vietnam's Squad Depth Dilemma Ahead of the Asian Cup

In modern football, a head coach is often judged by numbers: win rate, goals conceded, or points earned. But sometimes, the most important metrics are not on the stat sheet; they are on the injury list and the congested fixture calendar. For Kim Sang-sik, the Korean tactician currently leading Vietnam's national team, the current pressure is not just about tactics, but a grueling race against time and player fitness.

Vietnam football's current context places Coach Kim in a particularly difficult position. Following an ASEAN Cup campaign deemed disappointing in terms of results, the national team is entering an intensive preparation phase for the Asian Cup finals. The window from now until November – the next international matchday – is extremely tight. Kim does not have many opportunities to experiment, yet he is forced to find a solution to a longstanding core issue: over-reliance on key players and the fragility of the backup squad.

Analyzing the available data, Vietnam's problem lies not in the tactical formation but in squad depth. At the recent ASEAN Cup, Coach Kim attempted rotation and testing new personnel, but these experiments did not yield the desired results. This indicates a significant quality gap between the starting XI and the bench. When key players like Que Ngoc Hai or Do Hung Dung are absent due to injury or poor form, the team immediately struggles to maintain its playing structure. This is a manifestation of "single-point dependency" – a structural weakness that can be ruthlessly exploited by stronger continental opponents.

The core issue for Vietnam is not a lack of tactical ideas, but a disparity in quality between the starting lineup and the bench so large that any rotation plan collapses under high match pressure.

Following the team's recent matches, I notice a recurring pattern: Vietnam's ball control drops sharply in the second half, especially after the 60th minute. The cause is not necessarily the opponent's tactical shift, but central midfielders lacking the stamina to maintain pressing intensity. When substitutes enter, the match tempo immediately slows, passes become less accurate, and the team is pushed deep into its own half. This is a clear sign of an unsustainable rotation system and insufficient physical preparation for top-level tournaments.

Another factor that cannot be ignored is the punishing V.League schedule. Clubs under the VFF umbrella frequently play with dense fixture lists, meaning national team players arrive at training camps in an overloaded state. Injuries are an inevitable consequence, and Coach Kim faces an increasingly long injury list. Meanwhile, direct Asian rivals like Japan, South Korea, or Iran have abundant resources and more scientific load management systems, allowing them to maintain squad stability throughout major tournaments.

The key point lies in the difference in competitive thresholds. At the ASEAN level, Vietnam remains a top power, where small mistakes can be compensated by a few stars' character and individual skill. But on the continental stage, where speed and pressing intensity are much higher, squad depth gaps are immediately exposed. Coach Kim understands this, and his continuous experimentation with new personnel in recent times is an effort to find solutions to this difficult equation.

However, experimenting too much when time is limited can lead to counterproductive consequences. When a team constantly changes personnel, playing style stability is affected. Young players may have potential, but they need time to adapt to the tactical system and pressure from big matches. Placing them in important matches before they are ready can have side effects, undermining confidence and causing unnecessary errors.

From a management perspective, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) faces an important strategic decision. They need to clearly define the national team's objectives at the upcoming Asian Cup. If the goal is to advance past the group stage, pressure on Coach Kim will be moderate. But if expectations are higher, the severe squad shortage could be a major obstacle. VFF needs a close coordination plan with clubs to manage the match load of key players, while creating conditions for Coach Kim to have the strongest squad in upcoming training camps.

Another issue to consider is the players' mentality. After the ASEAN Cup failure, public pressure weighs heavily on the entire team. Key players like Nguyen Quang Hai or Nguyen Tien Linh understand they need to shoulder more responsibility. But when they are not at their best, the team seems to lose its leader. Building a collective that does not depend on any individual is a long-term process requiring patience and a consistent coaching philosophy.

There is a reality contrary to conventional wisdom: Coach Kim's repeated failed experiments are not necessarily a sign of weakness, but could be evidence of a necessary effort. Substitute players can only improve when given opportunities in real matches, and their failure in ASEAN Cup experiments is a necessary price to pay for building squad depth for the future.

The real problem is that time is no longer sufficient for long-term experiments. The Asian Cup is approaching, and Coach Kim needs to make decisive decisions. He needs to identify the official framework and build a playing style suited to current capabilities, rather than continuing to search for new factors. Personnel stability will help players clearly understand their roles and perform better within the tactical system.

A positive signal is that the coaching staff has identified the problem and is making necessary adjustments. In recent training sessions, players' workload has been more closely monitored, and tactical drills focus more on improving long-range defending. These are steps in the right direction, but their effectiveness can only be verified through actual matches.

Broadly speaking, Coach Kim Sang-sik's race is not just his story or Vietnam's alone. The challenge of squad depth and match load management is a common issue for many developing football nations, and how Vietnam overcomes it will be a valuable lesson for the region.

When November arrives, fans will have a clearer answer about the team's path forward. Can Coach Kim turn the situation around and create a collective capable of competing at the Asian Cup? Or will squad gaps continue to be a barrier preventing Vietnamese football's continental dream from waiting yet another cycle?