Vietnam team vs Nepal: Can U23 'carry the team'?

The future framework in the hands of Mr. Kim Sang Sik

From the list of the Vietnamese team, it is clear that coach Kim Sang Sik intends to build a framework for the future when calling up 8 players from the U23 group, a large number never seen before.

It is worth mentioning that these names are spread evenly across all three lines, forming a nearly complete vertical axis from goalkeeper, center-back, midfielder to striker.

Young players are waiting for coach Kim Sang Sik to test himself in the Vietnamese national team jersey.

Calling up players of the same age and who have played together in many youth tournaments to the national team is not a coincidence. It seems that Mr. Kim wants to take advantage of the harmony and understanding of this group of players to build a new framework, a highly connected playing style for the Vietnamese team in the future.

This is clearly a calculated move, showing a long-term plan to build a young, combative Vietnamese team ready for big goals instead of being tied down and relying on veterans.

Will U23 Vietnam have enough strength to "carry the team"?

Facing an opponent that is rated very low like Nepal, whose professional level is only equal to, or even weaker than, regional teams like Laos or Cambodia, Coach Kim Sang Sik's bold use of a large number of U23 players in the starting lineup is a completely possible scenario.

This is a "golden" opportunity for young players to make their debut or gain more experience at the national team level without having to endure too much pressure in terms of results.

This can happen when the opponent is not strong and coach Kim Sang Sik also has very far-reaching calculations with the U23 Vietnam team.

In terms of expertise, a squad with the core of U23 players still ensures balance because they are all too familiar with the tactical diagram and playing style of coach Kim Sang Sik in recent times.

This understanding helps solve the problem of integration time. Moreover, in terms of spirit, young players always have a desire to show off, so using a group of young players as the core or in other words creating a Vietnam team based on the U23+3 formula is very possible.

From a strategic perspective, using many U23 players is not only for the match against Nepal, but also a long-term preparation step towards the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

If the group of young players play well against Nepal, it will not only be a victory that keeps hope for the 2027 Asian Cup alive but also signal the start of a new generation of Vietnamese football under coach Kim Sang Sik.