Lam River, Nghe An: When the water rises, the boats rise!

Alongside that joy, football fans are certainly a little disappointed that Xuan Manh was not called back to the national team, and that Ba Sang and Van Lam, names previously included, are also absent from the U23 Vietnam squad this time.

In the end, only Van Duc secured a spot on the national team. (Photo courtesy of Hai Hoang)

Coach Park Hang-seo certainly took into account SLNA's most recent results in the V. League 2021 and the practical experience gained from previous seasons, as well as the training camps and matches of the national teams, to determine who would be promoted and who would remain at the club for further development.

This is to show that the door to the national team is always wide open, always reserved for those who are ambitious and know how to overcome adversity to rise to the top. But if anyone is content with yesterday's results, they will soon be packing their bags and leaving the team, as has been the harsh reality for not just a few players in the last few years.

The question arises: Is SLNA's worst ever performance in the V. League due to the inconsistent form of their star players, who are also national team members? Or is it a demoralized team with many average and weak players, and a huge disparity between the starting and reserve players that has hampered and further lowered the performance of the stars, making it inevitable that SLNA players struggle to earn and lose spots on the national team?

The reality is that, firstly, Xuan Manh, along with Van Duc and Van Hoang, were included in the squad preparing for the second round of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, but ultimately only Van Duc secured a spot, Van Hoang a last-minute addition, while Xuan Manh seems to have fallen out of the sights of the South Korean coach. Furthermore, Van Duc's disappointing performance in the UAE recently, which exceeded expectations, further confirms the clear decline of SLNA at the present time.

Meanwhile, while Van Lam's prolonged injury and subsequent absence from the squad are unreasonable, the absence of Ba Sang raises serious questions about this promising central defender. Clearly, with Van Khanh injured, Ba Sang's replacement hasn't provided much reassurance in SLNA's defense. Weaknesses in other areas have clearly placed a heavy burden on the defense, and Ba Sang is a direct "victim" of the long-term decisions made by those responsible for the future of the Vietnam U23 team.

However, amidst the general worries and regrets, there is also joy from the young players. This is because Van Viet and Sy Hoang are being trusted, even though their impact in the V. League hasn't been particularly outstanding, and it remains to be seen whether the upcoming stages will continue to unfold or end unexpectedly.

Regardless of whether they are called up or not, the stars of SLNA are generally facing an unavoidable reality: their team is in a difficult situation, and there is only one way out: to fight for victory, to create a situation where the tide rises so the boat rises, and there is no other way.

Van Duc will have to devote all his mind and energy to training and performing well for both SLNA and the national team, inspiring his teammates to follow suit and do their best. Xuan Manh, in reality, has "no way back" as he's starting from scratch again, and regaining his previous form after injury is never easy; it requires double the effort and extraordinary patience to hope for anything new.

When the tide rises, the boat rises; the younger players will also have role models to learn from and improve. With SLNA performing well and establishing a solid position, calling up star players and key figures to the national team is always "within reach," as is clearly seen with teams like HAGL and Hanoi.

This is a very fortunate and real opportunity for SLNA, especially for its key players, to be called up to the national team as the team is rapidly and confidently entering a "restructuring" phase to regain its former glory. Everyone knows that during SLNA's peak, players like Van Quyen, Cong Vinh, and many others who were called up further emphasized the indispensable "SLNA spirit" of the national team. However, watching Van Duc's recent performances for the national team reveals a decline compared to his form a few seasons ago; he needs to regain his image "immediately" before any opportunity, big or small, arises.

And it's not just Van Duc who has to do that, but the whole team, one after another, moving forward with a new look and image: SLNA - steely spirit, beautiful victory!