What to do to maintain the successful cycle of Vietnamese football?

New successes and new effects will help Vietnamese football confidently realize the big dreams set out before on the way to the continental playground and, ultimately, the world playground.

But after the climax of joy and the eagerness to reach far, there are moments of calmness and sober reflection to have a truly objective and realistic view. So, Indonesia does not bringASEAN Cup 2024The most complete and strongest naturalized squad, because they are still worrying about the 3rd qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, so if they have to face them, this "big mountain" will not be easy to overcome. Thailand's squad in the recent tournament was also incomplete, not the strongest, so if they meet them again, who can be sure that Mr. Kim Sang-sik and his team can win again?

Therefore, at least in the region, if the Vietnamese team wants to rise to number 1, it must definitely overcome the two "giants" Indonesia and Thailand, before wanting to talk to the top teams in the continent. And certainly that is easier said than done, desire and reality are often worlds apart. The Thais have always led all indicators for the top spot in the region for many years, but when they want to reach the continental level, in reality, they are always hindered by bigger mountains and have to return to the region as seen before. Then Indonesia massively naturalized, replacing the head coach with a Dutchman, but only time will tell, will the Indonesians with the "Netherlands 2 card" reach the final destination or not? Vietnam also had a chance at the 2022 World Cup, but the further they go, the more they see the destination is still far away.

The process of rising to the top of Vietnamese football is first of all to strive for the best results in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup and the 33rd SEA Games-2025. Before and after Xuan Son returns, naturalization will certainly take place, not as rampant as Indonesia, but at least "filling" the gaps that the Vietnamese National Team or U23 Vietnam squad is lacking in important positions such as left-back, central defender, then attacking midfielder and striker? Maybe we can't get what we need all at once, but step by step, time by time, because whether we want it or not, youth training and selecting domestic talent is always the top priority, every day to develop and improve Vietnamese football.

Right after the 2024 ASEAN Cup, experts and fans all know clearly which players will be potential and feasible candidates for naturalization to be ready for the national team, the key players but from now on will only spend time "for the club and family" such as Ngoc Hai, Van Quyet... And Mr. Kim Sang-sik himself also affirmed that he will spend time and effort to search and supplement the force including both old and new factors to create new strength for the team. He will continue to promote the effectiveness of the way he "revived" Hoang Duc, Quang Hai, Hai Long, Dinh Trieu, Tien Dung, Xuan Manh, Ngoc Quang, discovering "precious gems" such as Ngoc Tan, Van Vy... The old factors that were called up but not retained in the past journey such as Dinh Bac, Van Truong, Minh Trong, Van Do, Van Duc, Van Vu... will certainly have time and motivation to prove their abilities in the V-League, in the continental and regional cups, to be trusted to be present in the national teams...

Regarding the playing style of the Vietnam National Team and U23 Vietnam, Mr. Kim Sang-sik certainly will not declare like his predecessor Troussier, but will rely on the actual strength, specific people, specific opponents to arrange the squad and appropriate playing style in each match. The Korean coach prioritizes improving physical strength first, determined not to accept the situation where players only play for 75 minutes and then run out of battery like before. He will also find players suitable for the desired playing style without caring whether they played in V-League 1 or 2, who they were and what their achievements are. Of course, he does not care if someone says that the Vietnam National Team under Kim Sang-sik does not have a clear playing style and only answers with the reality on the field that the playing style brings victory in each match and the whole tournament, no one can predict, that is the most obvious main feature!

Just like the time of Mr. Park Hang-seo with the success at the AFF Cup 2018 and SEA Games 32, the Vietnam team under Kim Sang-sik, although not yet clearly identifiable, any opponent is forced to launch more strategies, more effort in each confrontation. Therefore, Mr. Kim and his team will face more difficulties and challenges than the matches at the ASEAN Cup 2024. Remember, after the successes at the AFF Cup 2008, 2018... The Vietnam team also had excellent teachers and students but could not defend the throne they had won, there were many reasons but basically the opponent "read" us and knew how to effectively prevent us. That is not only the story of Vietnamese football but of the entire football village.

The problem now is whether Mr. Kim and his colleagues can find a good solution to maintain the successful cycle of Vietnamese football as Mr. Park did in 2017-2022. It is difficult but not impossible, especially after Mr. Kim himself had the first credit for shortening the crisis cycle in 2022-2024 to bring Vietnamese football back to its original orbit with the ASEAN Cup 2024 throne. The 10-year gap (2008-2018) to win the two precious thrones before was also shortened by Mr. Kim and his team to 6 years (2018-2024), which is clearly a miracle, the basis for Vietnamese football to gradually reach new heights./.