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Vietnam national football team. / Screen capture from the ASEAN Championship Hyundai Cup homepage

A local outlet has assessed that Vietnam coach Kim Sang-sik faces homework on finishing and lineup selection heading into the semifinals of the 2026 ASEAN Championship Hyundai Cup, even as his side rides a 22-match unbeaten streak in A-internationals.

Local outlet VietnamNet reported on the 11th that while Vietnam, chasing back-to-back titles at the tournament, put in impressive performances in the group stage, they weren't flawless, with clear areas for improvement.

Vietnam will face Malaysia in the first leg of the tournament's semifinal in Kuala Lumpur on the 16th. The semifinals and final are played on a home-and-away basis, with the second leg between the two sides set for Hanoi on the 19th.

VietnamNet noted that although Vietnam went through the group stage unbeaten, they struggled with finishing in their matches against Singapore and Cambodia. Against Singapore, they were unable to break through the opposing defense and settled for a scoreless draw, while against Cambodia — despite dominating possession at 75% and firing 16 shots — they were held to a 1-1 draw until finally breaking the deadlock late in the match.

The outlet also suggested Kim faces something of a happy dilemma. While the importance of a specialized defensive midfielder is relatively diminished under Kim's tactics, which push aggressively from the start of matches, strong group-stage performances from players in that position could prompt him to reconsider his squad plans. The outlet cited Le Pham Thanh Long as a prime example, noting he impressed not only with his ball-winning ability but also his skill in controlling the tempo of matches and creating chances — suggesting Kim may face a difficult choice between players he has typically relied on and those in strong recent form.

Vietnam is favored heading into the match. The outlet noted that Vietnam holds an overwhelming record against Malaysia in their last 12 meetings, with 10 wins, 1 draw, and 1 loss. Vietnam also beat Malaysia 3-1 in Asian Cup qualifying last March.

Meanwhile, Vietnam has also stood out for its "fair play" in this tournament, committing the fewest fouls of any team. Vietnam committed just 24 fouls across four matches, averaging six per game — a figure also attributed to the fact that, having conceded just once in four dominant matches, there was simply little need to foul.

                                                                                                          Lee Jang-won