New breath of Vietnam team

Coach Kim Sang-sik called up 8 U23 players to the national team. Photo: VFF .

Among the 24 players gathered this time, the Korean strategist gave opportunities to 8 U23 faces including Tran Trung Kien, Nguyen Hieu Minh, Nguyen Nhat Minh, Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Xuan Bac, Nguyen Phi Hoang, Nguyen Dinh Bac and Nguyen Thanh Nhan. These are all players who regularly play at the club, playing the role of pillars of U23 Vietnam. Their presence shows the direction of renewing the force, but comes with a balance with the already familiar veteran framework.

Positive signs from young players

“I think having young players in the squad is always a positive thing. Whether they play or not, they will still learn, gain experience and from there have the opportunity to mature to become important factors in the future,” journalist Pathomphong Khongnamchok of PressZing (Thailand) shared with Tri Thuc - Znews when the list was announced.

“One-third of the squad are young players but this is a clear strategy,” the Thai writer emphasized.

Journalist Khongnamchok said so because besides young players, the Vietnamese team still maintains a framework with veteran players such as Van Lam, Duy Manh, Tien Dung, Hoang Duc, Tien Linh and Tuan Hai. They are both a support for the juniors and competitors to motivate the younger generation. In the context of some pillars slowing down in performance or being injured, adding young, healthy and ambitious faces is considered necessary.

The U23 players need to prove themselves right in training, from the ability to adapt to tactics, the understanding with teammates to the spirit of readiness whenever given the opportunity. Coach Kim Sang-sik is famous for his preference for disciplined, high-intensity pressing play, so endurance and quick reactions are mandatory criteria.

The presence of young players is expected to bring a breath of fresh air to the Vietnam team. Photo: VFF .

The writer from the land of golden pagodas talked about the opportunity for young players to play: “The competition for positions in the Vietnam national team will be very tight. Some young players will have the opportunity to play, even if they are not in the starting lineup, they can still come on from the bench. Their presence is still a positive signal.”

According to the schedule, Vietnam will meet Nepal on October 9 and October 14. The opponent is currently ranked 176th in FIFA, 62 places lower than Vietnam, and has lost both matches against Malaysia (0-2) and Laos (1-2). This is clearly an opportunity for Kim Sang-sik to test and check the integration of the U23 team without having to bear too much pressure on the results.

Coach Kim Sang-sik's calculations

Veteran players are the motivation for young players to strive. Photo: VFF.

In the group of U23 players, goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien is growing up day by day. He has impressive performances in V.League, being the number one choice of U23 Vietnam. But to compete with senior Van Lam - the most experienced and stable goalkeeper in many years, the goalkeeper of HAGL needs to make much more effort.

In defense, Hieu Minh and Nhat Minh both have the advantage of physique and ability to compete, promising to bring freshness. In midfield, Van Khang and Xuan Bac have proven their roles at U23, especially Van Khang has a long history of being selected for the national team.

On the attack line, Dinh Bac and Thanh Nhan are highly appreciated for their speed, aggressiveness and ability to create breakthroughs. Dinh Bac also left his mark with a goal against Japan under coach Troussier. However, all of them still need to overcome the experience barrier when competing with experienced seniors like Tien Linh and Tuan Hai.

However, the presence of 8 players from the U23 generation also means preparation for the long term. They will not only serve the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying campaign, but also be the core towards the 33rd SEA Games, the 2026 AFC U23 Championship and further the 2030 World Cup qualifying. Getting acquainted with the national team environment early will help young players shorten the gap in skill level, ready to inherit their seniors in the next few years.

“Vietnam is currently the leading football nation in Southeast Asia, with almost no rivals in the region. From the ASEAN Cup to the U23 Southeast Asia, the teams have all won. At the SEA Games, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia are the top 3 candidates, but perhaps the other two opponents will find it difficult to compete for the gold medal with Vietnam,” Pathomphong commented.

The door to the national team is open for young players. As for coach Kim Sang-sik, whoever performs well and meets the tactical requirements will have the opportunity to play. The two matches against Nepal therefore became an important test.

If they make good use of this, the Vietnamese team will have a new source of energy. Fans can also expect a next generation capable of shouldering the responsibility in the future.