Where is the constellation Changzhou now?

Football experts and fans are always interested in and following their every step in the Vietnam National Team and of course in the teams they are playing for at home and abroad.

The achievement of Changzhou - U23 Asia Finals in 2018 will certainly be remembered forever in the process of rising Vietnamese football under Mr. Park Hang-seo.

The first good news is that most of these stars are continuing to shine in the Vietnamese football sky, contributing to the success of the Vietnam National Team and the teams they play for, although this process cannot be said to be completely smooth and easy.

Cong Phuong is playing abroad. Photo: Archive

The brightest star of U23 Vietnam in Changzhou, Quang Hai, continues to shine in the Vietnam National Team, is the best player at the AFF Cup 2018, the number 1 star in the World Cup qualifiers of the Vietnam National Team as well as at Hanoi FC in recent years.

There are many stars who have maintained their high performance, made excellent contributions, and are still on the national team, such as Bui Tien Dung, Thanh Chung, Duy Manh, Van Thanh, Hong Duy, Van Duc, Van Toan, Cong Phuong, Van Hau, Duc Huy, Ngoc Quang, Duc Chinh, Van Hoang... Currently, top stars such as Quang Hai, Cong Phuong, Van Toan... have gone abroad to compete and everything will probably have to wait for time to give specific, convincing results.

Quang Hai is the brightest star in Changzhou. Photo: Archive

That decline even prevented them from being called back to the Vietnam National Team, including those who were called but did not play successfully. The stars then gradually faded away, first of all in the teams they played for, including goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung when playing for Thanh Hoa, Hanoi FC, Ho Chi Minh City and recently at Hanoi Police.

It is difficult for a star to shine brightly in the football sky and also stand out in the showbiz world like Tien Dung? It is also difficult for stars who have to struggle with constant injuries and maintain their inherent form like Dinh Trong, Van Hau, Xuan Manh, Duc Chinh, Xuan Truong...

Those who are "favored" by Mr. Park Hang-seo such as Van Duc, Hong Duy, Van Thanh, Xuan Truong..., are often called up to the national team, accompanying him through every campaign but almost contribute very little to the team, or occasionally flash up and then fade away.

A series of mountain town stars have not been able to help Hoang Anh Gia Lai perform well in the V-League for many seasons. Van Duc and Xuan Manh have also tried very hard to "carry the team" Song Lam Nghe An, but compared to their teammates at Hanoi FC or Viettel, they are still one level behind in every aspect.

The three recent V-League 2023 matches showed Ngoc Quang's efforts to regain his high form (2 goals) at Hoang Anh Gia Lai, but it was not a good sign for Van Duc, Duc Chinh, Xuan Manh, Tien Dung, Thai Quy, Tien Dung... when they were vague and made mistakes on the field, both as a starter and as a reserve.

Van Duc at Song Lam Nghe An could be the star of hope, the only breakthrough, but at Cong An Ha Noi, he only started for more than 1 half, came on the bench in 2 matches and did not leave any mark. If we look back at the whole process of joining the national team and at the new team, it is easy to see that Van Duc is gradually losing the best things in a midfielder who can change state and explode like in Thuong Chau and after. And is it true that Song Lam Nghe An is the real environment for this star to regain what he has lost?

To see, football as well as any sport, any path to success is always thorny, cruel, and mercilessly eliminated. The question "Where are you now, Changzhou Star?" will be very difficult to answer clearly and precisely, that's why. Coming here, a series of U20 Vietnam stars will debut in the Asian tournament, who knows, they will shine as their seniors did in Changzhou and more? This succession is mandatory and inevitable, although not easy, like the way Hoang Duc from U20 Asia later shone with his senior Quang Hai in the recent World Cup qualifying campaign and at Viettel in recent tournaments, the brilliant plays yesterday.