Coach Kim Sang-sik calls up a series of 'giants' for Vietnam's national team against Malaysia

Coach Kim Sang-sik is prioritizing the selection of many players with heights from 1.80m and above in the Vietnam national team roster for March 2026, aiming to enhance the team's physique and strength.

In the goalkeeper position, the Vietnam national team can possess names with very impressive heights. Most notably is Đặng Văn Lâm, who has been with the national team since 2016 and has extensive experience in major tournaments like the AFC Asian Cup and AFF Cup. The goalkeeper born in 1993 is maintaining stable performance with Ninh Binh FC and is expected to continue being a reliable last line of defense.

Additionally, Nguyễn Filip is also a standout choice as he gradually regains his form with Hanoi Police Club. The Vietnamese-Czech goalkeeper possesses good reflexes, modern footwork skills, and has been highly rated by the coaching staff multiple times. Two other names are Patrik Lê Giang, the Slovakian-origin goalkeeper who recently completed his Vietnamese citizenship and quickly caught the coaching staff's attention, and Nguyễn Đình Triệu, the best goalkeeper of the ASEAN Cup 2024.

Not only the goal, the defense line of the Vietnam national team is also being significantly "upgraded" in terms of physique. Tall center-backs like Bùi Hoàng Việt Anh (1.84m) and Đoàn Văn Hậu (1.85m) are both included in this training session. Besides, experienced players like Đỗ Duy Mạnh, Nguyễn Đức Chiến (both 1.80m tall) and Nguyễn Hoàng Đức (1.83m) are still considered pillars due to their nearly a decade of international playing experience.

With about 8 defenders taller than 1.80m, the Vietnam national team can possess the best lineup in terms of height ever. This is seen as a strategic move by Coach Kim Sang-sik to improve the ability to defend against aerial balls, a weakness that has been exploited in many recent international matches.

In recent times, the Vietnam national team has faced difficulties against opponents with superior physiques, especially when facing Malaysia, a team that utilizes many naturalized players with good physical foundations and height. This has led the coaching staff to realize the necessity of changing the personnel structure in the defensive line.

The goal of the Vietnam national team is not only limited to regional tournaments like the AFF Cup but also aims for bigger stages such as the AFC Asian Cup 2027 or the FIFA World Cup 2030 qualifiers. In the context where many Asian teams increasingly enhance their strength through naturalized players, improving physique and competitive strength is seen as a necessary step.

Alongside the current pillars, Coach Kim Sang-sik is still monitoring many tall young players for the long-term plan of the national team. Names like Đinh Quang Kiệt (1.95m), Trần Trung Kiên (1.91m), Hoa Xuân Tín (1.87m), or potential overseas Vietnamese players are also considered important resources for the future.