Who will catch the eye of new coach Troussier?

What the public is concerned about now is who the new coach will call and who he will leave out among the many familiar players of Vietnamese football, and what will those lists say?

In fact, Mr. Troussier is considered a new teacher, because he is the new successor after Mr. Park Hang-seo, but for many fans and many players, he is not completely new. Therefore, it is rumored that the U19 Vietnam team led by him in 2019 will have a "chance" in this training session at U22 Vietnam to prepare for the upcoming SEA Games 32. Of course, like teacher, like student, the student has been led by the teacher, knows all the strengths and weaknesses, so it is natural that there is a name.

HAGL (white shirt) played poorly on the opening day of V-League 2023. Photo: VPF

But remember, even during the time of Mr. Park Hang-seo or any coach, people also consulted a list proposed by the professional committee and discussed, reached an agreement and then decided. Even, additions and changes often occurred due to the performance, injuries, and other matters on and off the field of the players. After all, any list is always set in "open" mode, meaning that anyone with good performance and regular efforts always has the opportunity to be selected for the national team.

Based on what coach Troussier has shown during his time as the “White Wizard” in African and Asian teams, and when he was the technical director at VPF… people believe that the new teams will play with a different philosophy and a different style compared to the time of Mr. Park Hang-seo, although very successful, it is not enough to reach the continental and world level, and has even been recognized and predicted by opponents in the region. If this is true, does it mean that those teams will not play defensive-counterattacking like before but will play ball control, using attack as the basis for all technical and tactical operations, regardless of who the opponent is?

Schmidt (left) tackles Hoang Duc in the Binh Dinh - Viettel match in round 1 of V-League. Photo: Duc Dong

The eternal problem is "no flour, no mortar", playing defense-counterattack or attacking to control the ball or any other strategy must be based on the strength, potential, and versatility of each position on the field, of the core starting players and the reserve group...

WithVietnam team, no matter how Mr. Troussier will change and innovate, it is difficult to ignore the factors that were pillars before. Those players include Van Lam, Nguyen Manh... in goal, Ngoc Hai, Duy Manh, Tien Dung, Thanh Chung, Thanh Binh, Van Hau, Tan Tai... in defense. Who will play in the middle of the field will be the decisive factor for the new coach's playing style, of course Quang Hai, Hoang Duc, Hung Dung, Ngoc Quang... will be targeted. Who will be added to the midfield as the newest factors in Mr. Troussier's eyes to form the basis for change and breakthrough? On the attack line, Tien Linh, Tuan Hai... are still full of opportunities because it is difficult for anyone to "overcome" these strikers today?

In the U22 Vietnam team, the excellent generation of players born from 2001 onwards will be called up and the favorite students of the U19 era will be mentioned first, including Van Khang, Ho Khac Luong, Manh Quynh... The group of newly emerging players includes Xuan Tien, Van Cuong, Nam Hai, Dinh Duy, Phi Hoang, Vi Hao, Quoc Viet, Van Truong..., young players who are being tested in the V-League, and the number of U20 players who have just played well at the 2023 U20 Asian Finals will be considered and invited. Everything is not only aimed at defending the Gold Medal of men's football at the 31st SEA Games, but also towards the higher goal of a ticket to the 2026 or 2030 World Cup that Vietnamese football is waiting for and longing for when the opportunity opens up.

Therefore, although V-League 2023 is on hiatus, this period still has hot developments in Vietnamese football, when the new coach Troussier gets to work, when the players begin to prove and demonstrate all their abilities under the scrutiny, assessment, evaluation and most beneficial decisions to build a fighting force for the teams.