How was the Vietnamese national team rebuilt?

The recently released list shows that Mr. Troussier remains quite faithful to his initial principle of selecting experienced players who are in top form through practical experience in the V.League, while also not forgetting those playing abroad. This list also shows that the process of renewing the Vietnamese national team is truly becoming more specific and meticulous for each position, after a period of monitoring, waiting, and evaluating the results of the scouting system…

First and foremost, the key players from the era of coach Park Hang-seo, who have maintained their form and are capable of long-term contributions, continue to be retained as the "framework" for the Vietnamese national team. Notable examples include Van Lam, Ngoc Hai, Tien Dung, Duy Manh, Viet Anh, Tan Tai, Hoang Duc, Tuan Anh, Tien Linh, and Tuan Hai… Although the results at their respective V.League clubs vary, it's undeniable that they are truly top players, leading their teams in the right direction. Surprisingly, Troussier has been ruthless in dropping previously trusted players like Nguyen Manh, Thanh Chung, Van Thanh, Hong Duy… Clearly, this is alarming not only for the aforementioned players but also for those called up in September; if they don't perform as expected during training, it will be very difficult for them to remain in the squad for the October training camp.

Troussier is calling up a number of players, both new and not so new, to see if they are truly suitable, including Van Quyet, Duc Chien, Thanh Hao… The appearance of new names like Van Phong (Viettel), Thai Binh (Thanh Hoa), Trung Hieu, and Huu Son (Hai Phong) is also highly anticipated… These are players who have performed well in the recent V.League season, and are direct competitors to established players in the national team, but they still need to strive to avoid being left behind…

With Ngoc Hai's departureLam River, Nghe AnSeeking new clubs, the team from Vinh currently makes up the majority of the U23 Vietnam squad, but is completely absent from this training camp of the Vietnam National Team. This trend seems likely to continue, depending on the maturity of players like Xuan Tien, Van Cuong, Nguyen Hoang, and Nam Hai in the future. However, the hope that players from the Song Lam Nghe An academy will be included in the Vietnam National Team's squad for the 2026 World Cup qualifiers in the Asian region at the final decision-making stage is entirely plausible, as time and opportunity are wide open for their striving and advancement.

Currently, despite the ongoing training, observation, and coaching staff's guidance, it's easy to see which players will likely be in the starting lineup for the Vietnamese national team's upcoming matches. Van Lam is quite secure in goal, and the upcoming "pleasant headache" for Coach Troussier, with Filip Nguyen completing his naturalization process and joining the national team, will make the competition more interesting, exciting, and create an "overabundance crisis." The defense, with its three central defenders, still relies on the reliability and experience of Ngoc Hai and Duy Manh, along with Tien Dung, Thanh Binh, and Viet Anh. The two wingbacks, Van Hau and Tan Tai, are also solid, although the coach continues to await the emergence of new talents like Huu Son and Thai Binh…

In midfield, Hoang Duc is the most reliable player due to his consistent form. Hung Dung, having just returned, is being closely challenged by the younger and more aggressive Thai Son. Quang Hai has also just returned to the V.League and immediately won the championship with Hanoi Police, but it seems he hasn't yet reached his best form as many expected, while many reserve players are improving day by day – this is noteworthy. The attack still features Tien Linh, Cong Phuong, Van Toan, Van Quyet… but it seems Tuan Hai, Quang Nam, Thanh Binh… are the players worth watching and hoping for. Practical experience is one aspect, but passion and potential for growth are another story that Coach Troussier cannot ignore when observing and evaluating his new players.

It's clear that the Vietnamese national team under coach Troussier is operating on a solid foundation, building upon past achievements, while simultaneously gradually adapting and renewing itself to serve a new "ball control - attacking" philosophy, aiming for continental-level development despite facing numerous challenges. It won't be long before we can identify the new core of the Vietnamese national team, expected after the training camp in October.

The period from now until then will undoubtedly be an exciting and fierce competition among the top talents of Vietnamese football. Those who prove suitable and effectively implement the new playing style will inevitably be trusted and retained, while those who don't will be eliminated, returning to a "waiting mode" for opportunities if they still harbor the ambition to rise, fight, and win while things still can.

Bui Hoa