Thành Long plays well, and Coach Kim Sang Sik will reshape the Vietnam team.

There are players who only require a handful of games to demonstrate their value, yet Lê Phạm Thành Long is doing far more. The 1996-born midfielder compels Coach Kim Sang Sik to change the Vietnam team's operational approach.

Ahead of the ASEAN Cup 2026,Coach Kim Sang Sikonce aimed for an attack-oriented squad. The 7-0 thrashing of Timor Leste, with the midfield duo of Hoàng Đức and Quang Hải, seemed to confirm that choice.

However, the 0-0 draw against Singapore at Mỹ Đình served as a warning. Without a dedicated defensive midfielder to intercept, recover the ball, and clean up behind, the creative players tended to get in each other's way, and the team became unbalanced.

Coach Kim Sang Sik has made adjustments, andThành Longemerged at the perfect moment. In the 3-0 win over Indonesia, the Hanoi Police midfielder didn't need flashy moves to become one of the most crucial figures.

The 30-year-old player positions himself in front of the defense, controls the midfield, recovers possession, engages in duels, and immediately moves the ball forward. Notably, despite being only about 1.65m tall, he still wins physical battles and makes life difficult for opponents like Thom Haye (Indonesia) and Ogawa (Cambodia).

More importantly, Thành Long does more than just defend. His pass that tore apart Indonesia's defense to set up Hai Long for the 2-0 goal illustrates the 30-year-old midfielder's sharp thinking.

In the match against Cambodia, the former HAGL midfielder continued to provide an assist with a delicate chip for Đình Bắc to break through and score. For two straight games, Thành Long has directly influenced goals. A defensive midfielder consistently creating such assists is clearly a huge asset for Coach Kim Sang Sik.

Thành Long's presence also frees up Hoàng Đức. Knowing he has a teammate behind capable of covering, Hoàng Đức can push forward, receive the ball in dangerous areas, and focus more on orchestrating attacks.

That is why the Thành Long-Hoàng Đức partnership is becoming one of the most reliable central midfield pairings for Vietnam. Meanwhile, Quang Hải, despite still possessing class and experience, hasn't been in good enough form to automatically claim a starting spot. Thành Long doesn't replace Quang Hải's creativity, but he brings what the team previously lacked: balance.

This is also the remarkable growth of a player once seen as a controversial choice by Coach Philippe Troussier. Thành Long was given his chance on the national team under very special circumstances. He had never played for youth teams and had no international experience before being used by the French coach.

That decision once surprised many, but time is proving that Coach Troussier saw something not everyone recognized. From HAGL, Thành Long had to go through Phú Yên, Đắk Lắk, Long An, Hải Phòng, and then Thanh Hóa to gradually make his mark.

By the time he joined Hanoi Police FC, Thành Long had become an experienced, composed midfielder with an increasingly sharp ability to read the game. It is no coincidence that Coach Alexandre Polking chose him as a key figure in the midfield of an ambitious club like Hanoi Police FC.

Success with the club has further strengthened his composure. Now, those qualities are being showcased on the national team. Another advantage for Thành Long is his chemistry with many teammates in the squad.

From a "controversial discovery" by Coach Troussier, Thành Long can now become one of the most important players for Coach Kim Sang Sik. That is the midfielder's greatest value. Long doesn't need to be the most prominent star on the pitch, but he is difficult to replace.

The Vietnam team has changed because of Thành Long. And it is very likely that the journey to defend the ASEAN Cup title will be decided by that very change.