What needs to be done to sustain the cycle of success for Vietnamese football?

New successes and positive effects will help Vietnamese football confidently pursue the big dreams it has set for itself on the path to competing on the continental stage and, ultimately, on the world stage.

But after the initial joy and the eager anticipation, there are moments of reflection and clear-headedness to reassess everything in order to gain the most objective and realistic perspective possible. And here's what Indonesia didn't deliver.ASEAN Cup 2024Thailand's squad, with its full and strongest naturalized players, is also facing a formidable challenge, as they are preoccupied with the 2026 World Cup third round qualifiers. Overcoming them would be a huge obstacle. Thailand's squad in the recent tournament was also incomplete and not their strongest, so if they meet again, who can guarantee that Kim Sang-sik's team can win once more?

Therefore, at least in the region, if the Vietnamese national team wants to reach number one, they must definitely overcome the two "giants" Indonesia and Thailand before even thinking about competing with the top teams in the continent. And certainly, that's easier said than done; aspirations and reality are often worlds apart. The Thais have consistently led in all regional statistics for many years, but when they try to reach continental level, they are always stopped by bigger obstacles and forced to return to the regional level, as we've seen before. Then there's Indonesia's massive naturalization of players and replacement of their head coach with a Dutchman, but only time will tell whether the Indonesians, with their "Dutch second card," will reach their ultimate goal. Vietnam also had a chance at the 2022 World Cup, but the further they go, the more distant the destination seems.

The process of Vietnamese football rising to the top first involves striving for the best possible results in the final qualifying round of the 2027 ASIAN Cup and the 2025 SEA Games. Before and after Xuan Son's return, naturalization will certainly take place, not as widespread as in Indonesia, but at least to "fill" the gaps that the Vietnamese national team and U23 team are lacking in important positions such as left back, center back, attacking midfielder, and center forward. Perhaps we won't get what we need all at once, but rather gradually, because whether we like it or not, youth training and the selection of domestic talent are always top priorities, daily tasks for developing and elevating Vietnamese football.

Immediately after the ASEAN Cup 2024, experts and fans alike knew which players would be strong and viable candidates for naturalization to be ready for the national team, including key players who would now dedicate their time to "clubs and families" such as Ngoc Hai, Van Quyet... And coach Kim Sang-sik himself affirmed that he would dedicate time and effort to searching for and adding both old and new players to create new strength for the national team. He will continue to effectively implement the methods he used to "revive" Hoang Duc, Quang Hai, Hai Long, Dinh Trieu, Tien Dung, Xuan Manh, Ngoc Quang, and discover "precious gems" like Ngoc Tan, Van Vy... Former players who were called up but not retained in the previous season, such as Dinh Bac, Van Truong, Minh Trong, Van Do, Van Duc, Van Vu... will certainly have the time and motivation to prove their abilities in the V-League, in continental and regional cups, and to earn a place in the national teams...

Regarding the playing style of the Vietnamese national team and the U23 team, Kim Sang-sik will certainly not make pronouncements like his predecessor Troussier. Instead, he will base his team selection and playing style on the specific strengths of the players and opponents to ensure a suitable lineup and approach for each match. The Korean coach prioritizes improving physical fitness, resolutely rejecting the situation where players run out of energy after only 75 minutes of play, as has been the case for a long time. He will also find players suitable for his desired playing style, regardless of whether they played in V-League 1 or 2, their past experiences, or their achievements. Of course, he will not care about anyone saying that the Vietnamese national team under Kim Sang-sik lacks a clear playing style. He will respond with the reality on the field: a playing style that brings victories in each match and throughout the tournament, one that is unpredictable and unchangeable – that is the most obvious characteristic!

Just like under coach Park Hang-seo with his success in the 2018 AFF Cup and the 32nd SEA Games, the Vietnamese national team under Kim Sang-sik, although not yet clearly defined, will force any opponent to deploy more tactics and put in more effort in each match. Therefore, coach Kim and his team will face more difficulties and challenges compared to the matches in the 2024 ASEAN Cup. Remember that after the successful tournaments in the 2008 and 2018 AFF Cups, the Vietnamese national team, with excellent coaches and players, could not defend their title. There are many reasons, but fundamentally, opponents have "read" us and know how to effectively counter us. This is not just a story for Vietnamese football, but for the entire football community.

The challenge now is for Mr. Kim and his colleagues to find a good solution to maintain the successful cycle of Vietnamese football, similar to what Mr. Park achieved from 2017-2022. This is difficult but not impossible, especially after Mr. Kim himself played a key role in shortening the crisis period in 2022-2024, bringing Vietnamese football back on track by winning the ASEAN Cup in 2024. The 10-year gap (2008-2018) between winning those two valuable titles has also been shortened to 6 years (2018-2024) by Mr. Kim and his team – a clear achievement and a foundation for Vietnamese football to gradually reach new heights.