Vietnam National Team and the best squads under Mr. Troussier

According to the plan, the Vietnam National Team will gather for the first time from March 8-12 with 28 players, mainly to get acquainted with the new head coach and the new playing style. This is the second phase of the U23 Vietnam team preparing for the 32nd SEA Games, so it is very likely that the two teams will have the opportunity to compete internally to serve professional tasks, meaning that some young players will be "targeted" for the Vietnam National Team in the long term, even though their main task is near ahead.

Therefore, the first training session of the Vietnam National Team is actually just a light warm-up for Mr. P. Troussier to convey new theories about the playing style, consider who is suitable and who will be replaced. At the same time, the training and competition process at the 32nd SEA Games will give Mr. P. Troussier a comprehensive view of the youth, select the most outstanding factors to be included in the Vietnam National Team, and supplement the deficiency from the elimination of initially unsuitable factors according to the viewpoint and perspective of this military leader.

Vietnamese players celebrate a goal at the AFF Cup 2022. Photo:VFF

While in reality we have to wait for time, specific battles to give results about this harsh selection process, we can only look back at the results from Japan more than 20 years ago, the recent statements of the "White Witch" to guess who goes, who stays, who goes up, who goes down here. Certainly, the expected Vietnamese team in the eyes of Mr. Troussier is young, aged 22-27, suitable for the style of playing ball control, playing short balls, actively moving to find space... Of course, the pillars under Mr. Park Hang-seo who are suitable for the new philosophy, new reality will be retained. From there, a new team is formed that is smooth between generations, between youth, good resilience and experience, flexibility...

It is not difficult to predict that with that way of thinking and operating, it will be difficult for players who are not number 1 in their position to stay. For example, in the goalkeeper position, Van Lam is currently considered number 1, Nguyen Manh is number 2, Van Toan is number 3, but in the future, there will definitely be a change in the direction of Van Lam continuing to be trusted if there are no unexpected surprises, while Nguyen Manh is 30 years old, which means he has exceeded the age limit of 27 that the coach stated, so he has to give way to Van Toan number 2 and add a young factor from U23, for example?

In the defender position, Ngoc Hai certainly cannot “retire” because of his inherent class, stable performance and influence. Meanwhile, Tien Dung and Duy Manh both have “problems” at times, both in terms of expertise and ethics on the field, so they cannot be considered solid and irreplaceable. Remember that Thanh Chung, Thanh Binh, Van Hau, Tan Tai… are improving every day. They also have ideal physique and fitness, so they are easily trusted, entrusted, and equipped with the necessary skills to improve day by day.

The midfield will also have changes to suit the new requirements. Quang Hai and Hoang Duc, with their inherent class and maturity over time, will be fully trusted in the new scheme and new style of play. The information that Mr. P. Troussier met Quang Hai in France before coming to Vietnam revealed many things. It is very likely that Mr. P. Troussier will spend time helping Quang Hai regain his top-notch football instinct, because he knows the rare talent of this midfielder, knows that no one is more suitable than Quang Hai when operating the ball control style of play, finding space and making unique passes that have long been the trademark of "Hai con". Similarly, Hoang Duc is a rare commodity, a player with strange confidence against any opponent, so he is the one who will, together with Quang Hai, regulate the midfield, the rhythm of attack and defense of the team, helping the whole team overcome difficulties as well as promote favorable momentum to dominate each match. Of course, remember that both of these players can also be eliminated, if they do not meet the professional requirements, if the new lessons do not keep up?

But the reality is alarming for players like Van Duc and Tuan Anh for a long time, at the club as well as the national team. If they do not improve the situation, there is a risk that young, dynamic midfielders from U23, even U20 will rise up to take their place. The situation in the forward line is not the same as the midfield line because in general, it is very difficult to reach the level of Tien Linh and Tuan Hai, including Van Quyet if everything goes smoothly. But Van Quyet is 30 years old, too "old", so it is not surprising that he was eliminated. The problem is that they are currently rarely on the field or on the field but do not achieve the expected results. Tien Linh is covered by Rimario's "shadow", has not scored any goals after 4 rounds of V-League, an example that cannot be ignored. Other strikers have not scored, or rarely played, or have been on the bench for a long time, so what can they do to prove that they are worthy of being called up to the national team, to be the last name?

To see, having a satisfactory squad with “the best versions” is a dream, it takes a lot of time, a lot of sweat, a lot of things, things that can be said and can’t be said, can’t be said completely. But that is the necessary, correct path to achieve the final victory, needs to be supported, trusted at the highest level for the World Cup goal of Vietnamese football today and tomorrow.