Commentator Quang Huy: 'Victory is within reach for the Vietnam national team'

The Vietnam national team steps into the last group stage game of the 2026 ASEAN Cup against Cambodia with a highly comfortable mentality. Under Coach Kim Sang Sik, the squad has a big edge to clinch first place and keep their consecutive unbeaten run going.

Commentator Vu Quang Huy shared his viewpoints ahead of this encounter: "The current situation in Group A is heavily tilted toward the Vietnam national team. Coach Kim Sang Sik's men have their destiny in their own hands for a semi-final spot by finishing first in Group A, which would bring additional advantages in the knockout rounds. If they top the group, Vietnam will play at home in the second leg of both the semi-finals and the final. The match against Cambodia is an ideal time for the coaching staff to experiment with personnel, giving bench players a chance to gain match sharpness. There could very well be changes to the starting lineup in this game.

Squad rotation is highly likely to occur to minimize the risk of injuries and yellow cards. This is also the perfect moment for reserves to demonstrate their value, helping Coach Kim Sang Sik strengthen the team's depth before the knockout stages. However, I still believe the team's spine will be kept intact as a foundation. I still prefer the duo of Le Pham Thanh Long and Nguyen Hoang Duc starting in central midfield. Quang Hai will come on at the appropriate time, like a 'super' substitute.

Rotation, if it happens, also serves as a measure to ensure fitness after the energy-draining match against Indonesia. Moreover, proactively rotating the squad in this final group stage is aimed at conserving the best possible strength for the knockout rounds."

Commentator Vu Quang Huy believes the biggest pillar for the Vietnam national team right now is their extremely stable form. "We are on a 21-match unbeaten run across all competitions since October 2024. This impressive record brings great confidence to the entire squad before the final group stage match.

On the other side, the Cambodia national team has shown many positive signs under coach Koji Gyotoku. They play more proactively, featuring notable players such as Sieng Chanthea, Hav Soknet, and Yudai Ogawa, and recently secured a 3-0 win over Timor Leste to regain confidence. However, when facing stronger opponents like Singapore or Indonesia, Cambodia's defense still reveals many weaknesses and often leaves gaps.

Looking at the Cambodia team, one can see a consistent football philosophy in their style of play. From the era of coach Keisuke Honda to the current coach Koji Gyotoku, Cambodia has maintained the habit of short passing and ball possession.

However, the fragility in their defensive structure makes this team vulnerable to pragmatic opponents. Despite implementing a policy of youth development combined with naturalization, limited physical foundation and poor ability to maintain team shape have led to Cambodia's early elimination after just three matches.

It can be observed that Cambodia currently often adopts a 4-3-3 formation to approach matches. Although they possess quality players like Yudai Ogawa, Alisher Mirzaev, and Abdel Kader Coulibaly, the representatives of the Pagoda Land still expose large gaps in defense when facing teams with fast transition speed.

Therefore, the Vietnam national team needs to showcase their ability to control space, combine through the middle, and exploit gaps on the flanks. In addition, the issue of improving scoring efficiency demands a thorough solution. The lesson from the goalless draw against Singapore remains valid, as Vietnam dominated the game but lacked sharpness in the final third.

With the home advantage at My Dinh, stable form, and superior squad depth, the Vietnam national team is fully capable of controlling the game, dictating the tempo, and aiming for a decisive victory to enter the semi-finals as Group A leaders."