Coach Philippe Troussier and his World Cup vision

The biggest hope for Vietnamese football, after the Korean coach Park Hang-seo, is once again placed on the shoulders of another foreign coach, a French coach, after what he did so well with Japanese football more than 20 years ago.

In difficulty there is ease and in ease there is difficulty for Mr. Troussier, becauseVietnam teamreached the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup, very close to the dream ticket. U23 Vietnam also won the continental runner-up in 2018, meaning they have a foundation to move on. But it is difficult for him to still be in a situation where he has to lead both the national team and the U23 team, "taking care of two children" while time is not abundant and the expectations of the entire football industry are always urging every hour... Mr. Troussier used to work in Vietnam, understands the young players he led in 2019 - 2020, so this is one of the main reasons why he is confident in returning to Vietnam even though everything ahead is not simple.

A large number of media and fans welcomed the new captain of the Vietnam team. Photo: Hai Hoang

Everyone knows that while yearning for a World Cup ticket, Mr. Troussier must first defend the No. 1 position in youth football in the region, the Gold Medal of the 32nd SEA Games, something that Mr. Park Hang-seo has done well. Therefore, arriving in Vietnam early in the morning, by early afternoon the coach had already started working specifically on the major campaigns that he is the "commander". Many predictions and questions were raised, the impressions that the press, media as well as the reality of his previous years were brought up for analysis and forecast. The story therefore "heated up" even before he set foot back in Vietnam and will continue to heat up when things follow any possible trend.

In the next few days, when the first list of U23 players is announced and then the Vietnam National Team is announced, experts, media and knowledgeable people will gradually understand the "art" of coaching of this French coach.

With U23 Vietnam, will the young squad be the students he has led and planned from the previous U19 group, will there be additional excellent players from the U20 group who are playing in the continent led by domestic coach Hoang Anh Tuan? Will he use the young squad of Hanoi FC as the core or will there be more students from Song Lam Nghe An, VPF, Hoang Anh Gia Lai and other localities? Of course, the number of players called up for the first time will be very large, including players born from January 1, 2001 onwards according to regulations and hope is opening up for all talents of the age group. The problem is that through each training session, who will last until the end, who will be on the official list to attend the 32nd SEA Games next May?

After a long journey from France, the flight carrying coach Philippe Troussier landed at 6:20 a.m. on February 26. Photo: Hai Hoang

With the number of Vietnamese national team players, hope is also given to all talents who are ready to contribute to Vietnamese football for the goal of the World Cup ahead, so the openness and length of the story will be greater, deeper and of course much more difficult. Mr. Troussier is expected to maximize the young talents he trusts, that he has planned, trained and instructed. But that does not mean he will dismiss most of the "veterans" from the time of Mr. Park Hang-seo, even the number of players considered good but the Korean coach does not trust such as Van Quyet, Van Vu, Hoang Thinh, Xuan Manh, Khac Ngoc, Huu Tuan, Adriano Schmidt... for example? To say, while the lists have not been announced, there has not been any testing on the training ground, there is no specific pressure from public opinion... everything is still in a "waiting" mode in anxiety and hope.

Mr. Troussier is an experienced person, having achieved many successes on all fronts, which is indisputable. However, that level and that achievement happened many years ago, whether it will be repeated as an inevitability in a football that has not really developed is something that cannot be said in advance, although everyone has the right to hope and no one "taxes dreams"! Therefore, before everything goes in a favorable or unfavorable direction, let's give Mr. Troussier the opportunity to demonstrate his inherent qualities and abilities to the fullest and wholeheartedly support him so that Vietnamese football can bathe in a strong, vibrant flow towards the ocean in the open vision of the World Cup. Just keep going and all destinations will be reached, it's just a matter of how fast or slow./.