Vietnam - Singapore: A pivotal match for the semi-final berth

With the home advantage at My Dinh Stadium, in this third Group A match against Singapore, Coach Kim Sang-sik's team must secure a victory before a highly challenging away game against Indonesia. If they fully leverage their home advantage to take all three points, Coach Kim Sang-sik's squad will have one foot in the semi-finals.

Conversely, a draw or even a loss at My Dinh would put Vietnam at a disadvantage, as they would then have to battle host Indonesia three days later to keep their hopes alive.

Not only Vietnam, but Singapore also sees the match at My Dinh as decisive for their advancement. The Lion Island team has risen to the top of Group A after the second round, pushing Vietnam down to second place. Therefore, the clash between the two teams has become an "early final" that will determine the semi-final ticket. Coach Kim Sang-sik's men will reclaim the top spot from their opponents if they win the upcoming match at My Dinh, provided that in the other Group A match, Indonesia does not achieve a big enough win over Timor Leste to surpass Vietnam's goal difference.

However, defeating Vietnam is a very difficult task for Singapore. Since their loss in the 1998 Tiger Cup final (the predecessor of the current ASEAN Cup), Vietnam has not lost to this opponent. In their most recent meeting, the 2024 ASEAN Cup semi-finals, Vietnam won both legs (2-0 away and 3-1 at home).

Singapore is currently in a transitional phase. With a significantly rejuvenated squad and a team strength that is not particularly strong for this year's tournament, they may struggle to cause problems for the Golden Star Warriors at the "cauldron" of My Dinh on July 31.

The team under newly appointed coach Gavin Lee is pursuing a "Japanization" path. However, after two matches against weaker opponents like Cambodia and Timor Leste, Singapore struggled to secure victories. The Lion Island team's playing style has not yet been clearly defined or well-organized.

Away against Vietnam this time, Singapore is likely to adopt a deep defensive approach combined with quick counterattacks.

Singapore's defense will certainly face overwhelming attacking pressure from the defending champions. Vietnam has shown its offensive strength by scoring 17 goals in their last four matches. Meanwhile, Singapore has kept a clean sheet in only 2 of their last 11 games. Notably, even against weaker opponents like Bangladesh and the Maldives, Singapore failed to keep a clean sheet. Therefore, this defense will struggle to hold firm against Vietnam's attack.

In Group A of the 2026 ASEAN Cup, three teams—Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia—are the contenders competing for the two semi-final spots. The match between Vietnam and Singapore is therefore crucial in the battle for the top two positions in Group A; victory will give the winning team a significant advantage in the race for advancement.

After a resounding victory in their opening match against Timor Leste, Coach Kim Sang-sik's squad is highly confident heading into their second win of this ASEAN Cup. Beating Timor Leste 7-0 in the opener, the defending champions are believed to have not yet shown their full strength. In other words, Kim Sang-sik's team could be even more dangerous when playing at home with their strongest lineup.

Regarding the squad situation, good news for Vietnam is the return of naturalized player Nguyen Tai Loc. The striker, currently playing for Ninh Binh, has returned to normal training with his teammates after an injury. Tai Loc's return gives Coach Kim Sang-sik another quality option in attack.

The return of Tai Loc clearly gives Coach Kim Sang-sik more choices for his attacking options. It will be a "slight headache" for Coach Kim Sang-sik in selecting the starting front three for the match against Singapore. The South Korean tactician will have to weigh the left-wing position between Dinh Bac and Tai Loc.

In the current Vietnam squad, six players started in the 2-0 victory over Singapore in the first leg of the 2024 ASEAN Cup semi-finals: Xuan Manh, Thanh Chung, Truong Tien Anh, Quang Hai, Hoang Duc, and Xuan Son. Notably, Xuan Son scored three goals in Vietnam's two wins over Singapore in the semi-finals two years ago (one in the first leg and a brace in the second leg).

Compared to Singapore, Vietnam has a significant advantage in rest time, with a full week of preparation without much travel. Meanwhile, the Lion Island team has had a packed schedule, traveling to Cambodia midweek for the first match, returning home for the second, and then flying to Vietnam just two days later for the third match. Coach Gavin Lee's squad has had to travel and adapt to playing on three different pitches within seven days.

Singapore is a strong team in the region, but that is a thing of the past. They have won the ASEAN Cup four times, but their most recent title came 19 years ago. Singapore once dominated the ASEAN Cup thanks to a naturalization policy, but the decline of their domestic league and youth training system has depleted the Lion Island's talent pool.

The match between Vietnam and Singapore at My Dinh Stadium (Hanoi) will take place at 8:00 PM on July 31. With home advantage, a full and fit squad, and a winning mentality, Coach Kim Sang-sik's team is ready to aim for a victory.