Van Vi’s injury and Kim Sang-sik’s left-back puzzle: Why Jason Quang Vinh is the answer but not the final solution

Nguyen Van Vi opened the scoring against Indonesia, but shortly afterward he left the pitch with an injury. Vietnam national team lost more than a left-back; they lost a structural anchor. Nam Dinh coach Vu Hong Viet confirmed Van Vi picked up the problem during national-team duty. During the match, when Phan Tuan Tai replaced him, Vietnam’s left flank was repeatedly exposed, showing that the team’s attacking mechanism depended heavily on Van Vi’s mobility. Phan Tuan Tai is a conservative alternative, but his style differs from the system’s demands. Jason Quang Vinh, who has already been called up by coach Kim Sang-sik, offers more energy and direct running. However, his national-team performances have been less consistent than his club form. The real problem is not simply replacement; it is structural protection. Kim Sang-sik may need to adjust the formation, provide midfield cover, or switch to a back three with wing-backs. The injury forces Vietnam to find a new balance. It opens a door for another player to step up and could make the team less predictable. Ultimately, the national team must not wait for Van Vi to recover. It has to adapt, trust the squad, and build a system around the qualities of whoever fills the left-back role.