Three key players absent ahead of ASEAN Cup: Indonesia is looking at the wrong reason Vietnam remain dangerous

A journalist friend in Jakarta has just sent me a link. Without opening it, I could guess the content: the list of injured Vietnamese players ahead of the ASEAN Cup is being exploited in every detail by the Indonesian media. I opened the article, skimmed the comments, and stopped at this line: “Vietnam has lost three key players, this is our chance.” That sentence reminded me of Vietnam’s 3-0 victory over Indonesia, a match where Van Vi and Hoang Duc were described as the star duo. Injuries are inseparable from football, but the way a football nation reads the injuries of an opponent says more about itself. Indonesians have every reason to hope when Van Vi, Hoang Duc and Duy Manh are absent. However, if they only look at the list of missing players, they may miss the more important point: coach Kim Sang Sik's system is built to operate without depending on any individual. To set the context: according to the initial source analysis, Van Vi is described as a left-back or left winger with explosive pace, often pushing high to join the attack. He is a vital link in the South Korean coach's plan, especially in the transition from defence to attack. Without Van Vi, Vietnam lose their ability to escape high pressing with long passes down the left flank. Hoang Duc, in a different role, provides the decisive passes. In the 3-0 win against Indonesia, Hoang Duc contributed two assists. Duy Manh, although no detailed assessment of his position has been made, is also described as a defensive pillar. If we look at each name in isolation, the level of impact is clear. But football does not work with simple addition. Kim Sang Sik is known for preparing multiple solutions. The fact that Van Vi was initially reported as “unlikely to recover in time” in late August, rather than “definitely out” immediately, suggests the coaching staff already had time to test replacements. The question is not who replaces Van Vi, but whether the replacement can keep the original tactical intention. Here, the Indonesian media may be pushing themselves into a psychological trap. By focusing too much on the opponent's absences, they unintentionally make the match a story of Vietnamese shortage, rather than building their own game plan. If Indonesia enter the match thinking “the opponent is weaker because of missing players,” they may be surprised by a Vietnam that is compact, presses high, and transitions quickly with new names. I once wrote: “1500 nights in an empty stadium taught me to listen to the game through the pulse of the blood.” Watching the team’s recent training sessions, I feel this squad is deliberately lowering the tempo to wait for the right moment. The injury list is real, but the training intensity remains an unknown. If Kim Sang Sik is forced to use young players, he could choose a more cautious approach in the group stage, turning the ASEAN Cup into a testing ground before aiming for longer-term goals. That is not necessarily bad news for Vietnam, but it will be a trap for those who rush to conclusions. Another notable detail lies in the tactical consequence of losing Hoang Duc. Without someone to control the tempo and open play from the centre, Vietnam may be forced wider. If Indonesia read this, they might set up pressing to channel the ball to the wings and then compress space. But if coach Kim Sang Sik deliberately “hides” Hoang Duc in a deeper role in training sessions away from the media, will Indonesia still be confident in their plan? Southeast Asian football has changed a lot since Vietnam's 3-0 win. Indonesia are no longer a team without depth. They have quality naturalised players, good physical condition, and a coach who understands Southeast Asian football. Therefore, instead of just waiting for the opponent to weaken, Indonesia should ask whether their team is ready to handle pressure from a Vietnam side that does not have Van Vi. If they only look at the injury list, they will forget that a match is decided by 90 minutes on the pitch, not by headlines before kick-off. Finally, for Vietnamese fans, this is a time for patience. The losses are real, but Vietnamese football has overcome more difficult times. The most expensive thing in football is the moment fans realise the team needs them. When Van Vi, Hoang Duc and Duy Manh cannot play, the medical staff and young players are expected to answer with professionalism. The story of this ASEAN Cup may not begin with the strongest squad, but it may end with a more mature team. The rhythm keeper understands that the transfer market also has a heart, and it beats according to the season. There are no contracts here, only the belief of a group. The pulse of the national team is still there, even when three familiar beats must rest. Vietnam needs to find a new melody before meeting Indonesia. If they do, that will be the scariest message to their opponents. Based on my experience following matches, that 3-0 win did not come from one outstanding individual but from the whole team pressing immediately after losing the ball and transitioning extremely quickly. Van Vi ignited attacks on the left, Hoang Duc ignited attacks in the centre, but the flame was blown by the system. If Indonesia only tries to extinguish each candle, they will not extinguish the fire burning throughout the Vietnamese squad. One small detail is often overlooked these days: the way Indonesian media mention Duy Manh is different from how they mention Van Vi. They seem to have prepared data on Vietnam's left full-back, but almost ignore Duy Manh's role. This shows they are watching the match through the eyes of a fan, not through the eyes of an analyst. A team like Vietnam under Kim Sang Sik does not depend on one or two names; it depends on whether the replacements understand the tactical plan. As the ASEAN Cup draws closer, rumours about the squad increase. But I remember a phrase from coach Kim Sang Sik himself in a pre-tournament press conference: “I am not worried about a player being absent, I am only worried if the whole team does not believe in their way of playing.” That statement, though several months old, still resonates when I see Indonesia trying to create a media crisis. Vietnam may not be the strongest on paper when three players are missing, but if the collective retains patience and discipline, the match against Indonesia will be an interesting test of mentality, not of names. Southeast Asian football has always had matches where psychological factors account for 50%. Indonesia are trying to build a psychological advantage right now, but that advantage will evaporate when the referee blows the starting whistle. Van Vi, Hoang Duc and Duy Manh may sit in the stands, but their replacements have a chance to step into the spotlight. For some young players, this is the biggest dream of their lives. And those who get to dream will play with energy that opponents cannot predict. The story of the Vietnamese team right now is not in the absent list, but in the way the team handles it. If the coaching staff rotate well, this could be Vietnam's most successful ASEAN Cup campaign in many years. Conversely, if the psychological sense of shortage dominates, Indonesia will be the side to benefit. But I believe that those who have lived football, who have stood on an empty training pitch, know how to turn difficulty into motivation. That is why I have never underestimated a Vietnamese team missing its stars, especially when the collective heart is still beating so strongly.