South Korean media: 'Vietnam national team needs greater challenges'

South Korean outlets observed encouraging signals from Vietnam's national team after their 6-0 training match victory against Siheung FC, yet they look forward to more demanding challenges for Kim Sang Sik's players.

According to Aju News and Good Morning, the Vietnam national team got off to a smooth start in their training camp in South Korea by thrashing Siheung FC 6-0 in a friendly match held in Incheon on July 5.

Under the guidance of coach Kim Sang Sik, Vietnam viewed this as their first real test during the South Korea training camp. Siheung FC currently plays in the K3 League. Vietnam plans to gradually raise the level of opponents, from low to high intensity, to assess match fitness and personnel options.

The match took place under rainy conditions, but the Vietnamese players adapted quickly. In the second minute, Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong opened the scoring with a right-footed shot. By the 31st minute, Hai Long made it 2-0 with a technical finish. In the 38th minute, Hai Long scored again after an assist from Viet Cuong, giving Vietnam a 3-0 lead at halftime.

In the second half, coach Kim Sang Sik changed the lineup, bringing in naturalized goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang and Brazilian-born naturalized players such as Nguyen Xuan Son, Do Hoang Hen, and Nguyen Tai Loc. Nguyen Dinh Bac was also deployed up front. Vietnam continued to control the game.

In the 48th minute, Hoang Hen scored from inside the box to make it 4-0. Four minutes later, Xuan Son accelerated and delivered a precise pass for Hoang Hen to net his second goal, extending the lead to 5-0. In the 83rd minute, Nguyen Dinh Bac beat a defender and fired home to seal the 6-0 victory.

Coach Kim Sang Sik experimented with two different lineups in this match to test players' fitness, chemistry, and tactical execution. The game also received enthusiastic support from the Vietnamese community in South Korea.

According to these news outlets, reactions from Vietnamese fans were not entirely one-sided. Some opinions suggested "beating a third-division team is nothing to be proud of." Others commented that because it's currently World Cup season, finding practice opponents is difficult, so Vietnam had to travel to South Korea to face a third-division side. Another fan questioned whether coach Kim Sang Sik considers Vietnam's national team to be at the same level as a South Korean third-division team.

After this victory, Vietnam will face Yongin FC and Gangwon FC in succession. Yongin FC is a K League 2 side, while Gangwon FC plays in K League 1. Coach Kim Sang Sik will continue to raise the quality of opponents to test match sharpness and formation combinations.

Vietnam will return home on July 14. Then, on July 18, the team will play a friendly against Myanmar in Thai Nguyen. After this match, coach Kim Sang Sik will finalize the squad for the 2026 ASEAN Cup.

The 2026 ASEAN Cup will take place from July 24 to August 8. Vietnam is in Group A alongside Indonesia, Cambodia, Singapore, and Timor-Leste.

Vietnam will begin their title defense campaign with a match against Timor-Leste in Malaysia on July 24.