The story of players serving both their home team and the national team.

The remaining players who received call-ups, such as Xuan Tien, Van Cuong, Van Binh, and Dinh Bac, were not released by their respective clubs, possibly because they did not meet the requirements set by the French coach. They will therefore remain to play in the V-League after the break. The question of whether to serve the home team or the national team continues to be raised, not only in Vietnamese football.

While preparing to adopt a "standard" match schedule with the rest of the world, the V-League and First Division are currently undergoing a transitional phase, as many are aware. However, the long-term training camps for national teams, even if divided into periods as Philippe Troussier is doing, remain an outdated method, considered suitable because the playing philosophies of the new and old coaches are different, and even star players need time to adapt and gradually adjust. The idea of ​​national teams training for only a few days before playing official matches, like during FIFA Day, is a future prospect. Philippe Troussier certainly desires this, but demanding immediate implementation would mean failure, a failure that is already foreseen.

Vietnam U20 were eliminated but have every right to be proud of what they showed. (Photo: AFC)

Therefore, after the first training camp, getting acquainted and adapting, Coach Philippe Troussier believes that the current U23 players are lacking a playmaker and a player with good finishing ability in the attack. He is hoping that the U20 stars who recently competed in Uzbekistan can fulfill these requirements, considering the four potential candidates mentioned above. Van Khang is the most promising name, not only for Coach Troussier but also for Coach Park Hang-seo, who previously featured him in both the U23 and the Vietnam national team, and was named the best young player of the 2022 season. In addition, Quoc Viet, the "king of youth tournaments," is a strong contender for an attacking position, having consistently scored in the recent continental tournament. Of course, Van Truong and Duc Viet are also promising names in midfield positions for the U20 and U23 teams.

It's great news for Coach Philippe Troussier that Van Khang and the three aforementioned players are still only reserves at Viettel, Hanoi FC, and Hoang Anh Gia Lai. If they stayed with their home teams, they would continue warming the bench. But by joining the Vietnam U23 team, they would benefit in two ways: they would learn a great deal.

The decision of whether to stay and serve the home team or join the national team is more complicated for teams facing squad shortages and currently utilizing many young players in the V-League, including Song Lam Nghe An, Da Nang, and Binh Duong. Song Lam Nghe An has the youngest average age in the V-League and has already contributed two players to the U23 national team: Khac Luong and Manh Quynh (other young players who were called up and then returned are Van Thanh, Van Luong, and Quang Tu). At Song Lam Nghe An, Khac Luong and Manh Quynh only play a reserve role, so it's quite normal for them to be easily "released" to the U23 team, not to mention that Philippe Troussier has long been quite fond of these two players.

Young midfielder Tran Nam Hai has been called up to the Vietnam U20 team for the first time. (Photo: Chung Le)

But if Xuan Tien and Van Cuong are called up to the U23 team as per the "summons,"Lam River, Nghe AnThe upcoming V-League matches will be extremely difficult, as the backup players for the positions these two players occupy are not yet providing the necessary reassurance. Van Cuong has just played very well for the U20 team, but Xuan Tien's absence from the last three important U20 matches raises a big question mark. Similarly, if Vi Hao is called up, Binh Duong will be very reluctant to release him due to the team's current poor performance. But for Da Nang, the situation seems more optimistic and open, as both Duy Cuong and Dinh Duy, who are regular starters (Phi Hoang is injured), are still being retained for the U23 team despite the team's difficulties. Hoang Anh Gia Lai is also drawing consecutive matches but is still allowing both Quoc Viet and Duc Viet to contribute their talents to the U23 team.

Perhaps the dilemma of serving both the home team and the national team is so difficult to resolve that players always have to struggle, compromise, and carefully consider every final decision. With the general view, as well as that of Philippe Troussier, of "only calling up those who are in top form and ready to contribute to the national team," and when Vietnamese football truly becomes professional, it is the players themselves who decide their place in both the home and national teams. If they perform well and maintain impressive form, they will naturally be starters for their home team and ready to join the national team when called upon. Of course, some players may also decide to "end their international playing career," meaning they will stop participating in the national team to focus their efforts on the home team.

Returning to the topic of the four U20 players recently called up to the Vietnam U23 team, they will be tested as needed, either securing a place in the team or being dropped back to their home teams. Those who remain with their home teams and achieve good results in the V-League will be called up again by Coach Troussier as needed. This is a common occurrence in national teams and in sports. Therefore, wherever you are, you need to focus and strive to overcome difficulties and move forward, as the door of opportunity is always open to everyone.