Will Dinh Bac be Coach Kim Sang Sik's first choice?

Coach Kim Sang Sik will have few reasons to leave striker Dinh Bac out of the starting eleven against Singapore. The return of Tai Loc is a welcome boost for Vietnam, but it should be seen as adding depth rather than replacing a player who is currently on fire.

The 7-0 victory over Timor Leste confirmed thatCoach Kim Sang Sikcurrently possesses one of the deepest attacking lines in Southeast Asia.

Dinh Bac stood out with a hat-trick, an assist, and the Man of the Match award, reflecting the remarkable growth of this striker.

Dinh Bac moves tirelessly, constantly swapping positions with Xuan Son andHoang Hen, creating plenty of space for teammates to exploit - that is the modern football that Coach Kim Sang Sik pursues.

Tai Loc has recovered from his injury and is ready to return ahead of the match against Singapore. Coach Kim Sang Sik's "puzzle" is not "Dinh Bac or Tai Loc" but how to utilize both players.

At the present moment,Dinh Bacstill deserves to be the first choice. A player who just scored three goals, is in the best psychological state, and is full of inspiration has no reason to be on the bench. Changing the lineup after a 7-0 victory could break the balance that the Vietnam team has just built.

Dinh Bac does not need to play the full 90 minutes. Coach Kim Sang Sik can completely substitute him early if the game goes well, to save his energy for the long haul.

The good news is that Tai Loc does not necessarily have to compete directly with Dinh Bac. The Ninh Binh player is a versatile attacking midfielder, possessing a skillful left foot and excellent ball distribution. Tai Loc can play as a second striker, central midfielder, left winger, or even drop deep to distribute the ball.

Tai Loc could become a very effective "firefighting" option in midfield alongside Hoang Duc and Quang Hai. Coach Kim Sang Sik also needs to bring this player onto the pitch to test his adaptability after injury, while also reducing the burden on the key players to avoid unnecessary risks.

Having many quality players helps Coach Kim Sang Sik have more rotation options while maintaining the team's strength.

Even Hai Long, Gia Hung, and Viet Cuong are all reliable options. However, considering current form, none of them have as much impact as Dinh Bac.

Successful coaches are always very reluctant to change a winning lineup unless absolutely necessary. Singapore is certainly stronger than Timor Leste. Coach Gavin Lee has the experienced Anuar, Nakamura controls the midfield, and striker Ilhan Fandi is very dangerous in aerial duels.

However, this is also an opponent that will play more tightly, forcing Vietnam to need players who can create breakthroughs in one-on-one situations. That is precisely Dinh Bac's greatest strength. At My Dinh Stadium, with the support of tens of thousands of spectators, it is very likely that Dinh Bac will continue to shine.

Tai Loc will have his chance. It could be the last 20 minutes, a half, or even start in the following matches when the key players' stamina declines.