Vietnam National Team and a Golden Opportunity for New Talents

27/08/2025 06:45:00 TrophyTracker

Coach Kim Sang Sik has presented an unusual squad list, temporarily assigning the Vietnam national team coaching responsibilities to Acting Head Coach Đinh Hồng Vinh, which simultaneously means a golden opportunity for new players.

Whether it is Quan Văn Chuẩn, Lý Công Hoàng Anh, Trần Hoàng Phúc, Đinh Quang Kiệt, or Phạm Gia Hưng, securing a place in the Vietnam national team’s September FIFA Days training roster is an excellent chance for each individual.

It does not imply that they won’t have opportunities to join future national team camps. However, to achieve that goal, they must first deliver an acceptable performance this time to prove they deserve continued chances.

Vietnam will not play official international friendlies during this period, but with two training matches against Nam Định FC and CAHN, both featuring many foreign players, this will be an important test for the players, especially newcomers or those who have had limited opportunities in previous camps.

Beyond the players themselves, the September FIFA Days camp holds great importance for Vietnam’s national team in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifying campaign. Each year, Vietnam’s national team only gathers during FIFA Days in March, June, September, October, and November, with each camp lasting about two weeks.

This limited time demands full utilization and maximum efficiency. If any of these camps suffer reduced quality due to the absence of the head coach or insufficient personnel, it will impact the team’s cohesion and continuity in building the squad.

Newcomers like Quan Văn Chuẩn need to seize this opportunity to impress Coach Kim Sang Sik. Photo: Hoàng Linh

With the U23 Asian qualifiers ahead, Coach Kim Sang Sik has a valid reason to focus on that task and delegate the Vietnam national team’s leadership to assistant coach Đinh Hồng Vinh.

The schedule does not allow Coach Kim Sang Sik to "do two things at once," so he must make a choice. Naturally, he will lead the U23 Vietnam team in their mission to qualify for the 2026 U23 Asian Cup finals, but will still participate in planning and tactical direction for the senior national team.

Assistant coach Đinh Hồng Vinh, given temporary leadership, will mainly manage on-field operations, while major decisions will still carry Kim Sang Sik’s influence. This method ensures focus on the U23 team without completely neglecting the senior national team during this camp.

Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand all have plans for friendly matches against strong "sparring partners," so Vietnam’s national team only playing two V-League clubs will inevitably affect their preparation for the Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers against Nepal in October.

A strong U23 generation will be the foundation for the future, but instability in the senior team could slow development. The current personnel issue is not just a short-term arrangement but also connected to the long-term vision of Vietnamese football.

This also means that the upcoming camp from August 29 is especially important not only for the individual players, particularly the newcomers, but also for the entire national team, led by Head Coach Kim Sang Sik.

Comment (0)