U23 Vietnam attends Sea Games: Who should get the 3 over 23 spots?

Up to this point,Coach Park Hang-seohas not yet announced the 3 players over 23 years old who will join U23 Vietnam in the campaign to defend the Gold Medal in men's football at this year's Sea Games. However, the media has recommended a number of candidates to the Korean strategist, typically Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Hoang Duc, the 3 most mentioned players.

Do Hung Dung (number 8) is being nominated by the media to coach Park Hang-seo as one of the three players over 23 years old to attend SEA Games 31. Photo: Reuters

In terms of pure expertise, these are extremely necessary additions to the U23 Vietnam team. But if we consider the issue carefully, bringing Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Quang Hai and Nguyen Hoang Duc to the 31st SEA Games is unreasonable. Simply put, they and Vietnamese football won the Gold Medal in men's football at the 30th SEA Games, held in the Philippines in 2019. Why not give that opportunity to other players?

Look at how the Brazilian Olympic team did at the 2020 Olympics, held in Japan last year. The three players over 23 years old that were called up by coach Andre Jardine were Aderbar Santos, Dani Alves and Diego Carlos. While Dani Alves is on the other side of his career (born in 1983), the reputations of the other two players, goalkeeper Aderbar Santos (Paranaense) and center-back Diego Carlos (Sevilla), are both modest.

Phan Van Duc has never participated in the Sea Games arena. Photo: Document

For what reason did coach Andre Jardine and the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) not call up Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Man City), Marquinhos (PSG) or Neymar (PSG)? The answer can only be that Brazil's "thirst" for the Olympic men's football gold medal was "solved" in 2016, so Aderbar Santos, Dani Alves and Diego Carlos were given the opportunity by the CBF. A decision that received the approval of the Brazilian media.

Don't forget, Brazilian football is always full of talent. Sending superstars like Marquinhos and Neymar away is like "using a butcher knife to kill a chicken". And indeed, with a not-so-flashy squad, the Brazilian Olympic team still successfully defended the Gold Medal in men's football at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. I think VFF and Coach Park Hang-seo should learn from the CBF and Coach Andre Jardine.

Currently, Vietnamese football does not lack high-class players, typically Que Ngoc Hai, Pham Xuan Manh, Phan Van Duc (SLNA), (Viettel), Nguyen Van Quyet (Hanoi Club), To Van Vu (B.Binh Duong), Le Van Thang (Thanh Hoa)... If given the opportunity, the above-mentioned faces can absolutely shine to help U23 Vietnam successfully defend the Sea Games Gold Medal./.