South Korean media highlights the real achievements of Coach Kim Sang Sik with the Vietnam national team

South Korean media asserts that the two straight wins in the training camp in South Korea carry significance beyond the scoreline. The key point is that Coach Kim Sang Sik is obtaining crucial practical data needed to perfect the Vietnam national team before the 2026 ASEAN Cup.

The Vietnam national team is accelerating preparations to defend their Southeast Asian championship title. After a dominant 6-0 victory over Siheung FC, Coach Kim Sang Sik's squad continued with a 2-1 win against Yongin FC in their second friendly match in South Korea.

The Aju Economy newspaper from South Korea noted that the two matches, which had completely different dynamics and characteristics, allowed Coach Kim Sang Sik to assess various aspects of the Vietnam national team's gameplay. While the win over Siheung FC was an opportunity to evaluate attacking and finishing capabilities, the clash with Yongin FC became a test of resilience under pressure, transition play, and tactical discipline.

Yongin FC was considered a stronger opponent than the first team and consistently applied pressure on Vietnam's defense. With the opposition controlling more possession, Coach Kim Sang Sik's players had to maintain concentration, keep proper spacing between lines, and wait for opportunities to switch from defense to attack.

Vietnam capitalized on an early opportunity. In the 9th minute, Nguyen Hai Long opened the scoring with a decisive finish. Although Yongin FC exerted significant pressure for most of the match, Vietnam knew how to exploit transition moments to create danger.

Xuan Son continued to demonstrate his value upfront by scoring in the 75th minute, contributing to the 2-1 victory. The South Korean newspaper particularly emphasized the Vietnam striker's ability to appear at the right time in front of goal. His physique, aerial ability, and sharpness in decisive moments helped Xuan Son further confirm his important role as a center forward.

According to Aju Economy, the hard-fought win over Yongin FC actually provided Coach Kim Sang Sik with more professional data than a lopsided victory would have. A one-sided result might boost players' morale, but facing pressure from a stronger opponent better allows the coaching staff to assess the team's actual response capabilities.

During the 90 minutes against Yongin FC, Coach Kim Sang Sik had the opportunity to observe how his players maintained focus when under pressure from the opposition. The coordination between lines, speed of offensive and defensive transitions, defensive organization, and adherence to tactical instructions were all tested in a higher-intensity match.

Coach Kim Sang Sik's personnel management also drew attention. The South Korean manager continued to use different lineups in each half, allowing him to test various player combinations. Notably, the Vietnam national team still secured results while experimenting.

This is considered one of the most important achievements Coach Kim Sang Sik has gained in South Korea. The goal of the Vietnam national team is not merely to win friendly matches. The coaching staff needs data to determine each player's adaptability and to find suitable personnel options for various scenarios at the 2026 ASEAN Cup.

The South Korean newspaper also noted that the match against Yongin FC revealed both strengths and areas the Vietnam team needs to improve. When the opponent dominated possession, the defense endured prolonged pressure. Maintaining defensive shape, connectivity between lines, and transition speed are factors that need refinement before the official tournament.

Nevertheless, the ability to capitalize on chances was a clear bright spot. Hai Long continued his good form, while Xuan Son proved his striker's instincts in finishing. Scoring at crucial moments helped Vietnam achieve favorable results even when not fully controlling the game.

The Vietnam national team's training camp in South Korea was designed with progressively increasing difficulty. After testing their attacking strength against Siheung FC, Coach Kim Sang Sik's squad went through a tight contest with Yongin FC. The next opponent is Gangwon FC, a team currently playing in K League 1, the top tier of South Korean professional football.

The clash with Gangwon FC on the afternoon of July 13 is considered the most important test before the Vietnam national team concludes its training camp. Facing a higher-level opponent with greater intensity, Coach Kim Sang Sik will have another opportunity to evaluate the team's overall readiness and his players' ability to cope under conditions close to an official match.

Two consecutive wins are a positive sign, but Coach Kim Sang Sik's real achievement lies in the data gathered from each match. From a dominant victory to a pressure-filled contest, the Vietnam national team is gradually testing different scenarios before embarking on their journey to defend the 2026 ASEAN Cup championship.