Coach Bae Ji-won: Vietnam lost to Thailand because 'keeping the ball more is not an advantage'

On the night of December 28, 2026, at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung, Indonesia, the Vietnam national team suffered a 0-2 defeat to Thailand in the final group-stage match of the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026. The result not only cost Vietnam the top spot in Group B but also exposed a series of tactical and personnel problems — immediately analyzed with blunt honesty by Coach Bae Ji-won, a Korean tactician familiar with Asian football. Just 34 days earlier, Kim Sang-sik's squad had won the ASEAN Cup 2026 title after a 2-2 draw final against the same opponent. The rematch in Bandung was therefore expected by the media to be a statement of dominance by the defending champions. But football does not follow a pre-written script. In the 10th minute, Sarach Yooyen struck from outside the box, curling the ball into the top corner and leaving the Vietnam goalkeeper helpless. The early concession forced the team into an open game against a side that had deliberately dropped deep and was ready to counterattack directly. Coach Bae Ji-won opened his analysis with a counter-intuitive observation: "Vietnam held more possession, attacked more, but could not create clear chances. With the current squad, keeping the ball for a long time is not an advantage for Vietnam." This was a warning based on process observation, not emotion: Thailand under Anthony Hudson executed a disciplined defensive-counterattacking plan, willingly ceding possession to protect their lead and wait for opportunities to strike. Vietnam's systemic weakness was most clearly exposed in the area just outside the box. According to Bae Ji-won, the team lacked attacking diversity to break down a low block. Ngo Dang Khoa — a pace-focused striker suited to fast transitions — was virtually harmless against an organized defense. Meanwhile, Thailand's midfield trio maintained excellent defensive coverage, supported by disciplined full-backs, repeatedly cutting off Vietnam's central build-up. Even worse, sterile possession in front of this defensive system created dangerous space above the box — where Sarach Yooyen had already struck successfully. A notable tactical detail was Chanathip Songkrasin's role. He played as a "false nine" but did not have his best day. Nevertheless, the mere presence of the veteran star created a strategic effect: it forced Vietnam's center-backs to push up and follow him, leaving space behind — exactly the space Thailand targeted in its direct counterattacks. Bae Ji-won also pointed out that Vietnam did not lack moments of individual brilliance. In the 37th minute, Nguyen Tai Loc made a well-timed run but was flagged offside; in the 58th minute, Nguyen Hoang Duc drove through the Thailand defense before being stopped. These two moments showed that individual quality can make a difference — but they were improvisational, not repeatable, automated patterns. That is the critical difference between a team with good individuals and a team with a complete attacking system. Beyond tactics, personnel issues were also addressed directly. Four key players — Thanh Chung, Quang Hai, Xuan Son and Hoang Duc — were all in an overloaded state, leading to injuries and declining form. Playing continuously over a short period, from the V.League and domestic cups to the ASEAN Cup, exposed Vietnam's serious squad-depth problem compared to Thailand. While Thailand possesses a more seasoned squad with even replacement quality, Vietnam's bench options do not offer equivalent standards. This made Kim Sang-sik's substitution decisions even more scrutinized. According to Bae Ji-won, when the team needed a different kind of aerial pressure in the box late in the game, the failure to bring on Pham Gia Hung to support Williams Minh Hoang was a missed attacking option. Pham Gia Hung has good aerial-duel and target-man qualities — attributes that could create chaos in the box against a deep-defending side like Thailand. Overlooking this option raises questions about the coaching staff's in-game flexibility. This defeat also carries special psychological weight. It was Thailand's first win over Vietnam after three losses and one draw in their recent meetings. For a team that had just experienced the peak of its form in the ASEAN Cup final, entering the match as favorites and then suffering defeat could have long-term effects on morale. Bae Ji-won described Thailand's mentality as an "underdog mindset" — a team unafraid of being underestimated, willing to sit deep and play with maximum discipline — which multiplied Vietnam's difficulties. However, this must be assessed with caution. The 0-2 defeat cannot be a complete measure of Vietnam's true strength — because of injuries, insufficient recovery after the peak, and the fact that a single match does not fully reflect a team's depth. A hasty "decline" conclusion would lack analytical foundation. But if viewed as an early warning, it is entirely justified: Vietnam can still advance from second place in Group B, but the low-block problem must be solved before the first-tier final. Conversely, Thailand's victory also sparked a debate within its own football community. Despite winning, Anthony Hudson's pragmatic style was still criticized by some experts and fans as lacking aesthetics. But veteran pundit Be Bangkapong dismissed all doubts: "Just looking at the final result is enough." This statement reflects an ideological battle within Thai football — between the traditional beautiful-game school associated with Chanathip's era and a new result-oriented pragmatism under Hudson. The biggest question now is not whether Vietnam remains a title contender — the answer is clearly yes. The real question is how Kim Sang-sik will respond to the "Thailand blueprint" as more Southeast Asian teams replicate the formula of ceding possession, sitting deep and striking directly. Thailand has just demonstrated — or rather, exposed — a complete template for dealing with Vietnam: disciplined spacing, central midfield shielding, capitalizing on mistakes, and accepting ugly football to win big. Southeast Asian football is shifting faster than people realize. Vietnam cannot rely solely on a possession philosophy without a key to unlock deep defensive blocks. Patient process observation, the ability to read the game, and attacking diversity — the demands raised by Coach Bae Ji-won — will be the biggest tests for the coaching staff in the coming matches. Without a satisfactory answer, the "low-block problem" will continue to haunt Vietnam. But if the answer comes — and there is every reason to believe it can — the defeat in Bandung may become the necessary jolt for the team to enter a more mature new phase.