Coach Kim Sang Sik only chose Viktor Le for U22 Vietnam
Only Viktor Le was called up to the U22 Vietnam team to prepare for the 33rd SEA Games; Coach Kim Sang Sik's decision reflects the requirements for integration, physical strength and tactical discipline.
Only one overseas Vietnamese player, Viktor Le, was retained by coach Kim Sang Sik for the U22 Vietnam team heading to the 33rd SEA Games. The decision did not surprise experts, but was a clear signal of the selection criteria: integration, physical strength to cope with high intensity and discipline in the pressing system.
Decisions and messages from the bench
This is not the first time the Korean coach has chosen a cautious approach with the overseas Vietnamese group. Previously, he had eliminated Bui Alex despite high expectations. This time, only Viktor Le remained, while notable names such as Tran Thanh Trung or Vadim Nguyen have not convinced the coaching staff at the U22 level.
The highlight of Coach Kim Sang Sik's approach is that he does not place much importance on reputation or origin. The priority criteria are tactical adaptability, endurance, team cohesion and practical effectiveness in the domestic football environment.
Pressing philosophy and strict physical requirements
Under Kim Sang Sik, Vietnam U22 pursues a pressing style of play, moving constantly and coordinating at high intensity. With such an operating framework, if just one link cannot maintain the rhythm, it will affect the entire squad. According to the assessment, most Vietnamese-American players can only maintain high intensity for about two-thirds of the playing time - the remaining gap is a risk for a system that emphasizes endurance and competition.
In a highly organized scheme, each position must be able to “read” the pressing trigger and have the physical strength to recreate the encirclement multiple times. This is a threshold that requires not only individual technique but also physical condition to repeat tactical actions throughout the match.
Barriers to integration: language, culture and tactical roles
The problem is not only in the technical aspect. Differences in culture, language and living habits make it difficult for many overseas Vietnamese players to integrate into the team. Even with a technical background from a modern environment, quickly understanding the language of instruction and "catching the wave" of the role and operation of the youth team is not a simple test.
These setbacks explain why, upon returning home, the faces that made headlines in Europe have yet to make a significant enough difference to earn their place. At the U22 level, effectiveness within the system — not just individual skill — is the key measure.
Viktor Le: a reasonable exception in the current period
Viktor Le is a rare case who has become accustomed to the competition conditions in Vietnam. His adaptation to the climate, training pace and team operation helps him not to be "stuck" by the physical requirements and tactical discipline. In the context of U22 Vietnam pursuing high-intensity pressing, this level of readiness allows him to blend into the team more smoothly.
The door is open but the criteria are clear
The decision to only keep Viktor Le does not mean the door is closed to overseas Vietnamese players. But to be selected, they need to meet specific criteria that coach Kim Sang Sik prioritizes.
- Quick integration: understand the language of instructions, grasp the role in the structure.
- Endurance: maintain the intensity of pressing and competing throughout the match.
- Tactical discipline: right position, right time, coordinated.
- Team spirit: put the system above individual impressions.
SEA Games 33 is approaching, and U22 Vietnam needs stability rather than risky experimentation. The path to the national team for overseas Vietnamese players is therefore not closed, but only open to those who can prove that they are ready to fully meet the requirements of integration, fitness and discipline that Coach Kim Sang Sik pursues.
