This shows that the team needs to make significant changes soon, especially in the context of other teams in the region actively transforming themselves and making their mark by utilizing naturalized players.
Rivals are increasing naturalization efforts.
After 11 years, our men's national football team suffered another heavy defeat against Malaysia in an official match. While several key players were absent due to injury, and some players were out of form, these weren't the main reasons for the loss. The core issue lay in the fact that the Malaysian team had strengthened its squad with a series of naturalized players from South America and Europe. Previously, Indonesia had also transformed its style of play with a fast-paced, high-intensity approach thanks to naturalized players from the Netherlands, Nigeria, and Brazil.
Looking back at Vietnam's recent defeat, Malaysia fielded nine naturalized players, possessing ideal physiques, speed, technique, and the ability to quickly adapt to their tactical system. These players not only exerted strong pressure but also paralyzed all of Vietnam's attacking and defensive efforts.
Commentator Vu Quang Huy noted that the trend of naturalizing players in Southeast Asia is clearly increasing, especially in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. They have a systematic approach when selecting players currently playing in top leagues in Europe and South America. In a short period, Malaysia has naturalized as many as 20 high-quality players from Argentina, Brazil, Spain, etc. These players possess superior physical fitness and speed compared to the average and play in top teams. Meanwhile, most foreign players in the V.League are of a lower caliber.
Expert Phan Anh Tú also agreed that, given the current trend, to compete against teams with strong naturalized players like Malaysia or Indonesia, the Vietnamese national team's coaching staff needs to develop more specific strategies. Looking back at the loss to Malaysia, coach Kim Sang Sik's tactics weren't the biggest problem; he focused on deploying a dense defense. If the Vietnamese team hadn't played that way, they would have collapsed in the first half.
The worrying aspect is that the Vietnamese players appear completely outmatched in one-on-one challenges, leading to a lack of cohesion in the team and making them vulnerable to counter-attacks. The absence of a striker with sufficient physique and strength like Nguyen Xuan Son (absent due to injury) also renders Vietnam's long-ball attacks ineffective. The current forwards lack speed and fail to put pressure on the opposing defense – a strength that was previously a key element in the team's counter-attacking system.
Prioritize youth training and improving physical fitness.
Although there are still about nine months until the return match against Malaysia in the qualifiers, the Vietnamese national team's coaching staff urgently needs to restructure its personnel, especially in key positions. One of the solutions mentioned is to continue exploiting the potential of Vietnamese players living abroad – those who have received professional training overseas.
In reality, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has been actively seeking high-quality overseas Vietnamese players to supplement the national team, with two prime examples being goalkeeper Nguyen Filip and defender Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, who are currently key players. However, not all overseas Vietnamese players adapt easily. Language barriers, lifestyles, time zones, weather conditions, and even the match schedules of their respective clubs are difficult issues to overcome.
VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu stated that these obstacles are not easy to resolve "overnight." Organizing training camps according to FIFA Days schedules and bringing overseas Vietnamese players aged 17-22 back to try out is a long-term approach. This also means that a long-term roadmap is needed to achieve the goal of raising the strength of the Vietnamese national team, rather than importing strength quickly like Malaysia or Indonesia.
According to VFF President Tran Quoc Tuan, using naturalized players is only a short-term solution. In the long run, sustainable football development must start from the roots. Vietnamese football needs strong investment in youth training, improving physical fitness, strength, speed, and tactical thinking. Vietnam needs to invest more in training centers, from selection and training to opportunities for international competition. Academy models like Hoang Anh Gia Lai JMG, PVF, Viettel , or effective training models from clubs such as Hanoi FC, Nghe An, etc., should be replicated. Simultaneously, there needs to be a policy to send young players abroad to compete, gain experience, and develop character before returning to serve the national team.
Experience has proven that sustainable development can only come from mastering resources. Naturalizing players may be a leverage, but internal training is the long-term foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnamese football. This is the path that leading football nations in the continent, such as South Korea and Japan, have chosen, and Vietnam should not take shortcuts.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/doi-tuyen-bong-da-viet-nam-bai-hoc-kinh-nghiem-tu-dau-truong-asian-cup-705606.html
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