Commentator Quang Huy: Xuan Son's return is a boost for the Vietnamese national team.

Commentator Vu Quang Huy assessed coach Kim Sang-sik's decision to recall Nguyen Xuan Son to the Vietnamese national team as surprising but welcome. The main objective, according to him, is to test the striker's adaptability and ball control after nearly a year of injury treatment, rather than to use him immediately in matches.

Professional signal and a morale boost for the attack.

In a commentary on the Quang Huy Story channel, commentator Vu Quang Huy suggested that Xuan Son's return has two layers of significance. Professionally, the coaching staff needs to observe how he adapts to the intensity of national team training after a long break due to injury. Mentally, Xuan Son's presence could inspire and foster healthy competition among current attacking options like Tuan Hai and Tien Linh, especially given the Vietnamese national team's low scoring performance in the last two matches against Nepal.

According to the veteran commentator, this is the right time for the team to boost internal motivation, thereby refreshing the atmosphere in the locker room and increasing the quality of training sessions. However, immediately using Xuan Son was not a priority for coach Kim Sang-sik during the recent training camp.

Don't rush: prioritize recovery and getting used to the rhythm.

Commentator Vu Quang Huy advised that Xuan Son should not play immediately. The striker needs more time to readjust to the intensity of training and matches before aiming for a return to the V-League in early 2026. This cautious approach helps minimize risks and ensures the player achieves a more stable physical condition and ball control when returning to high-intensity play.

Do Hoang Hen and FIFA's legal framework

Besides the interest in Xuan Son, fans also questioned why Do Hoang Hen – a naturalized Brazilian player with high performance in the V-League – had not been called up. Commentator Vu Quang Huy explained that the core reason lies in legal factors: according to FIFA regulations, naturalized players need to have resided in the country for a minimum of 5 consecutive years since registering to play professionally to be eligible to represent the national team.

Coach Kim Sang-sik is forced to strictly adhere to this regulation to avoid legal risks. Recent events have shown that violations related to naturalized players can lead to serious consequences: Malaysia's appeal was rejected by FIFA for using ineligible players, and they face the risk of having points deducted in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Overall perspective: finding a balance between expertise and discipline.

The recall of Nguyen Xuan Son demonstrates the balanced approach of the Vietnamese national team in the current period: paying attention to the need to strengthen attacking options while ensuring discipline and adherence to international legal frameworks. Internal competition is heightened, but this is not at the expense of hastily using players who have just returned from injury.

With that approach, the coaching staff has more data to assess Xuan Son's readiness, while also sending a clear message to the entire team about professional standards: all personnel decisions must be based on physical condition, ball control, and legal obligations. In the short term, this is a morale boost for the attack; in the long term, it is a cautious step towards building a solid foundation for the Vietnamese national team.