Vietnam National Team: Cao Pendant Quang Vinh and expectations from naturalized players

Defender Cao Pendant Quang Vinh's acceptance of Vietnamese citizenship will give him the opportunity to join the national team, continuing to affirm the selective naturalization policy of Vietnamese football.

Vietnam National Team No Longer Needs to Worry About "Sagging Wings"

After winning the AFF Cup 2024, the Vietnamese team continued to receive good news when overseas Vietnamese player Cao Pendant Quang Vinh received Vietnamese citizenship. This means that the left-back position, which was once the number 1 concern of the Vietnamese team, can now become a strength. Since the AFF Cup 2024, Van Vi has played well with 4 goals and a comprehensive offensive and defensive style of play. Now, with the addition of Quang Vinh, the left wing of the Vietnamese team will become more diverse. The player who has played for many years for Sochaux Club in Ligue 2 (the second highest league in France) and the New York Red Bulls Club of the US Major League Soccer (MLS), has a good physique (1.77 m tall), a strong style, and good basic techniques. Although he may not have participated in explosive attacks like Van Vi (currently has 3 goals, 2 assists in V-League 2024-2025), Quang Vinh brings balance in attack and defense, especially good aerial ability against tall opponents. Together with Van Thanh - Tien Anh on the right wing, the duo Van Vi - Quang Vinh promises to help the Vietnamese team possess a very high-quality pair of wings.

Cao Pendant Quang Vinh (right) will help coach Kim Sang-sik have more options.

Photo: Minh Tu

Football expert Doan Minh Xuong commented: "Quang Vinh is a good player, but not to the point of being called too excellent. In fact, at this time, if we compare him with Van Vi, it is not clear which cat bites which mouse because Van Vi is in very high form at the club level and the Vietnam national team. However, the appearance of Quang Vinh is a good sign, helping the Vietnam national team's coaching staff have more positive competition in the left-back position. Of course, from now until the FIFA Days in June, many things can happen. If Quang Vinh, after naturalization, achieves high performance, is called up by coach Kim Sang-sik and adapts well to the Vietnam national team, it will help the team have a thicker squad, and the coaching staff will have more personnel options."

Affirmation of Vietnam's naturalization policy

Mr. Doan Minh Xuong assessed that the 5 goals of Ngoc Quang, Van Vi (double), Hai Long, Quang Hai against the Laos team showed that the Vietnamese team has two fairly equal attacking wings. If Quang Vinh can meet expectations, he will be able to add to the 3-4-3 formation which requires a lot of physical strength and power from the full-backs - which is also his strong point. "The attacking power from the two wings of the Vietnamese team is very good. In fact, the striker position is sometimes more worrying when Tien Linh, who is good at playing as a center forward, is not enough. Fortunately, next June, the Vietnamese team will play on the Malaysian field, so we will be able to calculate a draw. The biggest wish of the fans will be for the players to try to play well, maintain their form, and for Quang Vinh to prove himself in the Vietnamese team. At that time, he will be the affirmation of the selective naturalization strategy with Vietnamese colors, proving that overseas Vietnamese players are always a valuable resource for Vietnamese football," Mr. Xuong commented.

The Vietnamese national team has been opening its doors to overseas Vietnamese talents such as Dang Van Lam, Nguyen Filip, Mac Hong Quan... The new factor at this time, besides Quang Vinh, is Viktor Le, who has just had a successful debut with the U.22 Vietnam team. In addition, many overseas Vietnamese players such as Legley Adou Minh ( Ha Tinh Club), Patrik Le Giang, Nguyen Zan Hoyt Le Cao (HCMC Club)... are also completing the naturalization procedures. Brazilian midfielder Hendrio, who speaks Vietnamese fluently, is also waiting to become a Vietnamese citizen... Not as fast as Indonesia or relying on Western players like Singapore, Malaysia, or China in the past few years, naturalized players who understand Vietnamese identity like Quang Vinh, combined with competition from domestic players, will be the foundation to create strength for the Vietnamese national team in its upcoming dream of rising up.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-cao-pendant-quang-vinh-va-ky-vong-tu-nguon-cau-thu-nhap-tich-185250329234841288.htm