Vietnam national team in attack crisis: Golden opportunity for striker Nguyen Cong Phuong
With many players in the attack line injured, it is likely that striker Nguyen Cong Phuong will return to the Vietnam team at the end of May to prepare for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
The serious shortage of attacking players has forced coach Kim Sang-sik to consider backup options with international experience. One of them is striker Nguyen Cong Phuong, a player who was a mainstay under coach Park Hang-seo but has been absent from the national team for a long time.
Currently, Cong Phuong is playing for Binh Phuoc Club in the National First Division. Although the playing environment here is not as fast and competitive as in the V.League or the national team level, the player from Nghe An still leaves a clear mark.
As of mid-April 2025, Cong Phuong had played a total of eight matches in all competitions, scoring six goals – including four in the First Division and two in the National Cup. He also provided three important assists, notably in the match against Khanh Hoa, where he provided two assists to help his teammates score a brace.
The presence of Cong Phuong in the squad has helped Binh Phuoc's playing style improve significantly. In the matches he was absent due to injury, the team faced obvious difficulties and lost to direct competitors, Phu Dong Ninh Binh Club. Stable performance, the ability to create breakthroughs and international competition experience have helped Cong Phuong not only play a pivotal role but also become a spiritual support for the young players of Binh Phuoc Club this season.
Under coach Kim Sang-sik, no player is given a starting spot by default. The Korean tactician has built a team that values competition and tactical adaptability. His selection philosophy does not focus on a player’s past or reputation, but on actual performance, current fitness and ability to adapt to the tactical system he deploys.
Therefore, anyone who wants to join the current Vietnamese team must prove their worth through each training session and specific performance, including names that were once considered symbols like Cong Phuong.
At the age of thirty, Nguyen Cong Phuong will have to get used to a new role if he is called up again. He is unlikely to keep his familiar position as a striker, but can be adjusted to play on the wing or appear in a tactical support role, depending on the situation and the specific opponent. This change requires Cong Phuong himself to make more efforts, not only physically but also in terms of tactical thinking and team spirit.
In the context of the Vietnamese team moving towards comprehensive innovation under coach Kim Sang-sik, each player must compete fairly and assert themselves. The door is opening for Cong Phuong to return, but to step through and stay, he needs to show determination, adaptability and continuous effort.
The gathering at the end of May could mark an important turning point, not only for Cong Phuong but also for the new way of operating the national team in the journey to conquer a ticket to the final round of the 2027 Asian Cup./.
