Malaysian newspaper: The Vietnamese national team would be extremely strong if they called up 7 naturalized players with very clear origins.

According to Astro Arena, the Vietnamese national team will be extremely strong, potentially fielding up to seven naturalized players with completely new origins, in their rematch against Malaysia on March 31st in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Coach Kim Sang-sik is elevating the Vietnamese national team.

Astro Arena, citing Vietnamese press reports, confirms that in the upcoming FIFA Days in March, coach Kim Sang-sik may be allowed to include up to five brand-new naturalized players in the Vietnamese national team, following the inclusion of goalkeeper Nguyen Filip and top striker Nguyen Xuan Son.

Nguyen Xuan Son is a naturalized Brazilian player who shone in the Vietnamese national team's colors at the 2024 AFF Cup.

Photo: Ngoc Linh

The Vietnamese national team's five newest naturalized players include goalkeeper Le Giang Patrik, who has Vietnamese ancestry with a Vietnamese father and a Slovakian mother. The remaining players are all of foreign origin, coming from Brazil after living and working in Vietnam for over five years, thus meeting FIFA's naturalization requirements.

Among them, Gustavo Sant'Ana (who has become a naturalized citizen under the new name Do Phi Long), Hendrio Araujo (now Do Hoang Hen), while Janclesio Almeida and Geovane Magno are in the process of completing the final procedures to officially become Vietnamese citizens.

"These brand-new naturalized players for the Vietnamese national team all have clear profiles, and all are between 31 and 33 years old, an age when they are at the peak of their form. They will certainly be a new and powerful resource for coach Kim Sang-sik to choose from and elevate the 'Golden Star Warriors' (the nickname of the Vietnamese national team)," according to Astro Arena.

If Malaysia loses the case at CAS, will they revoke the passports of the 7 naturalized players?

Astro Arena also stated that, for the time being, coach Kim Sang-sik may use 2 out of 5 newly naturalized players: Do Hoang Hen and Le Giang Patrik. The remaining players will be considered depending on the conditions and the completion of the naturalization process in the near future.

Previously, the Vietnamese national team often used 2 to 3 players of Russian origin or naturalized citizenship, including goalkeeper Dang Van Lam (of Russian descent), defender Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, and striker Nguyen Xuan Son, who shone brightly at the 2024 AFF Cup and helped the Vietnamese national team win the championship for the third time.

"Clearly, the Vietnamese national team has made excellent preparations for the rematch against Malaysia on March 31st in the final match of Group F of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, determined to win as big as possible to overtake Harimau Malaya (the nickname of the Malaysian national team). To date, Malaysia is still leading the group with 15 points, 3 points ahead of Vietnam, with a goal difference of +14 compared to +6," according to Astro Arena.

What happened to the 7 players who were illegally naturalized as Malaysian citizens?

"However, the Malaysian team is still in a very precarious situation due to the 'illegal' naturalization case awaiting arbitration at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), with the final ruling on February 26th. If they lose, the rankings in this group will be completely disrupted."

While awaiting that day of reckoning, regardless of the outcome, the Vietnamese team has shown they are still ready for a fair rematch and a victory on the field to secure their ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup in the most impressive way possible," Astro Arena assessed.

Joao Figueiredo, one of the seven players who illegally naturalized Malaysian citizens, has been allowed to temporarily return to all football activities of Johor Darul Ta'zim FC. However, the AFC has warned of significant risks if the penalty is upheld.

Photo: Ngoc Linh

Meanwhile, seven Malaysian players who were naturalized illegally face the possibility of having their passports revoked if they and FAM (Football Association of Malaysia) lose their appeal against the FIFA sanctions at the CAS on February 26th. This would mean they would have no chance of returning to the national team, nor of the rematch against Vietnam.

Currently, this group of players has been temporarily allowed by CAS to return to all football activities, but only 4 out of 7 are allowed to play: Hevel, Irazabal, and Figueiredo for Johor Darul Ta'zim and Garces for Alaves. The remaining 3 players have not played a single minute due to insufficient fitness or having been dismissed by their clubs: Imanol Machuca, Rodrigo Holgado, and Gabriel Palmero.

According to the New Straits Times , although these players have been allowed to return to competition, the CAS emphasized that their current suspension is merely procedural, aimed at preventing "irreparable sporting damage," and does not confirm their long-term eligibility to compete. Clubs employing these players still risk forfeiting the match, and the players could face renewed suspensions if the final ruling is upheld.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bao-malaysia-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-cuc-manh-neu-goi-7-cau-thu-nhap-tich-co-goc-gac-rat-minh-bach-18526020809141955.htm