Vietnam National Team's Over-Reliance on Two Strikers: When There's No Plan B

In the second leg of the ASEAN Championship final, in the 59th minute, Nguyen Xuan Son received a pass from Quang Hai, turned and shot from inside the box. That was his seventh goal of the tournament – a defining moment of the championship. But immediately after the final whistle, a question lingered: if Son were suspended, or Tien Linh injured, where would Vietnam find goals? The reality throughout the tournament showed how fragile the answer is. The dependence on this striking pair is not new. Head coach Kim Sang-sik built his attacking play around two proven central strikers, but when facing a well-organized defense like Thailand's, the attacking ideas became limited. Data from the group stage shows that Son and Tien Linh contributed 10 out of 16 goals, about 62.5%. Notably, most goals came from crosses or open play. When the opponent blocked the space behind the defense, Vietnam had no alternative route. Compare with Thailand, a country that has dominated the region with a collective style. They do not have a superior centre-forward like Son, but midfielders like Chanathip, Sarach, or Evene always know how to push forward and score. Their system relies on mobility, not on individual brilliance. Vietnam is going against that trend: the ball is quickly played to the two forwards, and if they are shut down, the whole team falls into deadlock. Evidence was in the first leg final, when Thai defenders marked Son closely from the first minute, leaving Vietnam's attack almost powerless. Some might argue this dependency is acceptable because they possess two top-tier strikers in the region. But modern football demands diversification. Leading European clubs like Man City or Arsenal score from multiple positions, not just relying on the striker. Even in Southeast Asia, Philippines or Indonesia show the threat of wing penetration or long shots. Vietnam is too reliant on Son's goalscoring ability. If he has an off day, the team struggles. Let's examine matches when Son was absent. In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, before Son's naturalization, Vietnam beat the Philippines thanks to Tien Linh's goal, but the performance was not convincing. Pressing and transition lacked sharpness. The issue lies not only in the strikers, but in the system's lack of a Plan B. Coach Kim needs to develop more central attacking patterns, use wingers like Van Toan or Tuan Hai as false nines. Or improve goals from the second line, where Quang Hai and Hoang Duc still owe many goals. Winning the ASEAN Championship is a great success, but it might mask tactical flaws. In continental competitions like the Asian Cup, where opponents are far stronger, reliance on two individuals becomes a fatal weakness. Remember how Japan advanced through the group stage with positional rotation, or South Korea with Son Heung-min not being fixed in a central position. Vietnam needs a revolution in attacking thinking – not just one star. Football is a team sport. Big victories often come from diversity in scoring methods. After the days of celebration, Coach Kim Sang-sik and his staff should probably worry about the day when both Son and Tien Linh cannot play. Hopefully that day won't come, but if it does, the team will step onto the pitch with not only 11 men, but also with the anxiety of not knowing who will score.