Vietnam's national team strategy
Before Nguyen Xuan Son's arrival, the door to the Vietnamese national team rarely opened for naturalized players who did not have Vietnamese blood. At that time, the national team was still dominated by purely Vietnamese players, or overseas Vietnamese, as in the case of Van Lam or Nguyen Filip.
However, Xuan Son's brilliant performance with his goals, coupled with his burning desire to contribute and his patriotic spirit, has unlocked a "valve" of thinking, causing prejudices about naturalized foreign players to almost disappear.
Following Xuan Son, several names who have been or may be naturalized have been mentioned as viable options for the Vietnamese national team, ranging from those of Vietnamese origin like Kyle Colonna, Viktor Le, and Pierre Lamothe to those of foreign descent such as Hendrio Araujo, Michael Olaha, and Geovane Magno...
Xuan Son brings endless inspiration.
This is a positive sign, demonstrating that the Vietnamese national team can welcome new resources that bring competitiveness and quality to the game (what if the Vietnamese national team had 2 or 3 more players of Xuan Son's caliber!?), instead of relying purely on youth training and hoping for a generation of talent that may take a very long time to emerge. This is also a common trend among many national teams around the world .
However, while naturalization may be a shorter path, it's not a shortcut to success.
According to expert Doan Minh Xuong, head of the school football committee of the Ho Chi Minh City Football Federation: "V-League teams can naturalize players, but choosing who to call up to the national team is the coach's decision, and that decision needs to be made cautiously and thoughtfully. Coach Kim Sang-sik needs to clearly explain to the VFF's technical committee: which positions are weak and definitely require naturalized players (such as strikers), which positions can be patient with domestic players, and which positions need to nurture young talents."
Jason Quang Vinh (right) may be fit to play for the national team in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.
Commentator Vu Quang Huy told Thanh Nien Newspaper: "We should set specific criteria for selecting suitable players, such as having a higher skill level compared to domestic players in the same position, being able to speak Vietnamese at a basic communication level on the field, being willing to dedicate themselves to the national team, fitting into the long-term plan, and loving Vietnamese culture and country..."
Where is the Vietnamese national team weak?
Nguyen Xuan Son made a brilliant impression, not only because of his class, but also because he played in a position that Vietnamese football has long been weak in: striker.
Previously, coach Kim Sang-sik had agile and skillful midfielders, but lacked a versatile center forward who could compete, charge forward, and create opportunities for his teammates. Xuan Son has brought the perfect piece, allowing the Vietnamese national team to truly understand the exhilarating feeling a top-class striker can bring.
After Xuan Son, Jason Quang Vinh's name is now being mentioned. The player born in 1997 is receiving maximum support to complete the naturalization process. Jason is a high-class player (having played for the French U.16 and U.18 teams and spent 8 years in Ligue 1) and he also plays in a position where Vietnamese football is currently lacking talented players: left back.
Coach Kim Sang-sik needs more talented players.
Since Doan Van Hau's injury, the Vietnamese national team has been unable to find another versatile left-back who is equally adept at attacking, defending, and winning aerial duels. Many options have been considered, from Hong Duy and Tuan Tai to Van Vi, but all have only been considered average by Southeast Asian standards. The Vietnamese team lacks a fast, strong, and durable left-back to control the left flank in a three-centre-back formation. Jason Quang Vinh possesses all the qualities Coach Kim needs, and his passionate performance in Hanoi Police FC's 2-1 victory over Ha Tinh in the National Cup shows that the 28-year-old is ready. Once Jason Quang Vinh obtains Vietnamese citizenship, he may be called up to the national team.
Several other key positions could see the addition of naturalized players, such as defensive midfielder, attacking midfielder, or even a supporting striker for Xuan Son. These are areas where, if Coach Kim has talented players, the Vietnamese national team's playing style will be more solid and exciting to watch.
Kim Sang-sik's squad is already strong enough to win the Southeast Asian championship. But to reach the Asian stage as desired by coach Kim Sang-sik and the fans, the Vietnamese team needs to be better. The South Korean coach still prioritizes finding purely Vietnamese players in the V-League, but with more options, the path to success will clearly be less challenging.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-se-don-cau-thu-nhap-tich-o-vi-tri-nao-185250115212838968.htm
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