Indonesia's national team has a 1.96m striker who just scored a hat-trick; how will coach Kim Sang Sik use his defenders to stop him?

Indonesia not only secured a 5-1 victory over Cambodia in the 2026 ASEAN Cup opener but also unveiled a dangerous new asset called Mitchell Baker.

The 1.96m tall striker scored a hat-trick in his debut, including two headers, leaving Cambodia's defense almost helpless against aerial balls. This also poses a challenging problem for coach Kim Sang Sik ahead of the clash with Indonesia in the 2026 ASEAN Cup on August 3.

Baker's greatest strength lies not only in his exceptional height but also in his positioning and movement inside the box. His two headed goals against Cambodia showed his ability to exploit spaces, time his jumps, and gain an advantage over defenders. Simply choosing a marker based on height may not guarantee a solution for Vietnam.

Doan Van Hau is another name worth considering for coach Kim Sang Sik. Although known as a left-back, Van Hau under the Korean coach has often been deployed as a left-sided center-back. Standing at 1.85m, with solid physicality and aggressive play, Van Hau has the toughness to trouble Baker. More importantly, his extensive international experience helps him use his body effectively, apply pressure, and limit the opponent's space in the box.

Another option is Bui Hoang Viet Anh. At 1.84m, the Vietnam national team center-back is not physically superior to Baker, but he possesses rich international experience. Viet Anh has been capped many times for the senior national team and U23 Vietnam, regularly facing tall foreign strikers in V.League and Asian tournaments. His ability to read the game, judge aerial balls, and compete in the air can help reduce Baker's influence.

Another choice for coach Kim is Dinh Quang Kiet. The young center-back stands at 1.95m, nearly matching Baker in physique. He has a clear advantage in aerial duels due to his long reach and good jumping ability. However, his weakness is limited international experience. Although he has played a season in V.League and faced quality foreign players, going up against a striker in top form like Baker remains a challenge.

However, looking at coach Kim Sang Sik's philosophy, he is likely to avoid assigning a man-to-man marking task to any individual. To neutralize a 1.96m striker, the key is to cut off the supply from the wings. If Indonesian players lack time and space to deliver accurate crosses, Baker's threat will diminish significantly.

Additionally, Vietnam will likely apply a zonal defensive approach, with one center-back actively contesting aerial balls while the other provides cover behind to handle second balls. This is a common modern tactic used to deal with physically dominant strikers.

The clash with Mitchell Baker will certainly be one of the most notable highlights of the match between Vietnam and Indonesia. If they can neutralize the new "goal machine" of the archipelago team, coach Kim Sang Sik's players will take an important step toward conquering the 2026 ASEAN Cup.