Vietnam team is having a strategic pause

During this September training session, the Vietnamese team only had two closed practice matches with the Hanoi Police Club and the Nam Dinh Steel Club. This caused disappointment for fans, especially when regional rivals were actively organizing international friendlies. However, if we look closely at the context, we can see that this was a necessary pause for coach Kim Sang-sik to calculate for long-term steps.

Coach Kim Sang-sik has reason to prioritize U23 over the Vietnam team at this time.

Preparing for the rematch Malaysia

The most important highlight in the coming time for the Vietnamese team is the rematch against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. This is not only a direct competition between two neighboring teams, but also a pivotal match for the situation of the group.

Malaysia has recently added a strong force of naturalized players, making them an unpredictable opponent and easily breaking the familiar personnel structure of the Vietnamese team.

In that context, coach Kim Sang-sik cannot continue to operate the old squad and is forced to "renew" it drastically. Giving opportunities to young faces, while building a different tactical plan, is the way for Vietnam to best prepare for a rapidly changing opponent.

Many people think that not playing international matches during FIFA Days in September is a step backward. However, the reality can be seen from another perspective. The absence of key players such as Quang Hai, Nguyen Hai Long or Doan Ngoc Tan has opened up opportunities for a series of new factors.

Young names like Pham Gia Hung, Tran Hoang Phuc or Phan Du Hoc were tested, even though only against V.League clubs, but it was still a test with significant competitiveness thanks to the presence of quality foreign players.

With a squad lacking much international experience, such matches are considered just enough of a test. Young players can integrate into the tactical system, get used to the pressure at the national team level without being overwhelmed.

More importantly, the coaching staff has time to observe, adjust and gradually build personnel depth instead of just chasing short-term results.

Vietnam team needs to renew its lineup.

Think positive for the long haul

The key point is that if U23 Vietnam continues to maintain impressive performances in the 2026 U23 Asian qualifiers, the national team will benefit even more because it has stable resources for many years to come.

With the number of young faces tested during this training session, Mr. Kim Sang-sik is gradually forming a sustainable "human resource ecosystem".

In the short term, fans may be disappointed that the team will not be able to compete internationally and will not have the opportunity to improve their FIFA ranking. But in the long term, this is a way for the team to have a necessary break, recharge and prepare for the upcoming key matches.

The success or failure of this choice will only be revealed when Vietnam enters the rematch against Malaysia in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers in March 2026.

In the big picture, Mr. Kim Sang-sik has accepted to sacrifice the excitement of the present in exchange for the foundation for the future. The silence of the national team in September is not passivity, but a strategic retreat - where new factors are given opportunities, and the team's personnel system has more opportunities to restructure.

If Vietnam get a good result against Malaysia, this pause will be seen as a wise decision.

Source: https://znews.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-dang-co-quang-lang-chien-luoc-post1581487.html