Come and offer an opportunity, it's that easy!

What's particularly noteworthy is likely the position of striker Nguyen Cong Phuong in the Binh Phuoc team. If we were to look for a promising player who could be called up to the national team by coach Kim Sang-sik in the near future, in relation to the match between Binh Phuoc Club and Ho Chi Minh City Youth Club on October 19th, in the qualifying round of the 2024-2025 National Cup, it could only be Cong Phuong.

Cong Phuong in the jersey of Binh Phuoc Club

In the squads of these two teams, there are hardly any players left with similar potential. Goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong of Binh Phuoc is too old (almost 40 years old) to hope to return to the Vietnamese national team. Meanwhile, midfielder Sam Ngoc Duc, center-back Huynh Tan Sinh, or striker Ho Tuan Tai of Binh Phuoc are not outstanding enough to convince coach Kim Sang-sik to call them back to the national team from the First Division.

Similarly, on the Ho Chi Minh City Youth team's side, there are no outstanding or famous players worthy of representing the Vietnamese national team in the near future. Only striker Nguyen Cong Phuong is a star with the potential to play for the Vietnamese national team in the near future. The fact that coach Kim Sang-sik traveled to Binh Phuoc to watch the National Cup match, instead of watching the V-League matches on October 19th in Hanoi or Nam Dinh – between Hanoi Police FC and Hanoi FC, or Nam Dinh and SLNA – shows that the Korean coach is willing to give Cong Phuong a chance. Of course, this is conditional on the Binh Phuoc striker performing consistently in many upcoming matches.

Coach Kim Sang-sik plans Công Phượng's debut match for Bình Phước Club.

One goal scored by Cong Phuong against Ho Chi Minh City Youth team in the National Cup qualifying round on the afternoon of October 19th is not enough to guarantee anything, except that the striker, who originated from HAGL FC, is gradually regaining his form after a long period of not being used at Yokohama FC (Japan). Furthermore, the fact that coach Kim Sang-sik is willing to give Cong Phuong time shows his determination to revitalize the Vietnamese national team's attack and add new players to the squad for the AFF Cup.

In the Vietnamese national team's forward line at the moment, apart from Tien Linh, who stands out significantly from the rest in the center forward position, no player is guaranteed a starting spot. Tuan Hai, Van Toan, and Vi Hao will compete for the position of withdrawn forward just behind Tien Linh. Meanwhile, Dinh Bac and Van Truong could serve as super substitutes for the aforementioned strikers.

Tien Linh is in good form.

Since no striker is guaranteed a spot besides Tien Linh, coach Kim Sang-sik could also include Cong Phuong in the list of contenders alongside the aforementioned players, should Cong Phuong perform consistently. Furthermore, coach Kim Sang-sik is looking for Cong Phuong's greatest strengths: his ability to create breakthroughs and his creative playing style – elements that the Vietnamese national team's attack currently lacks. As for Cong Phuong, his task from now until the national team convenes for the AFF Cup is to demonstrate these abilities to coach Kim Sang-sik for evaluation, and then be given a chance.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-tan-mat-xem-cong-phuong-den-de-trao-co-hoi-de-the-lam-185241020160641846.htm