Coach Kim Sang-sik shocks Vietnam team: Change or lose job

On the afternoon of November 18, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) announced 30 players to go to Korea for training before the 2024 AFF Cup. Never before has the list been kept so secret from fans. When the VFF made the information public, everyone was surprised when a series of key players were crossed out - meaning they would no longer have a chance to participate in the number 1 tournament in Southeast Asia in December.

The unpredictable list

Over the past few years, people have become accustomed to seeing Tuan Anh, Hung Dung, Ngoc Hai or Cong Phuong appear in the training sessions of the Vietnamese national team. Even though their performance is sometimes not at its peak, they are considered an indispensable part of the coaching staff. However, before the AFF Cup 2024, this group of players are mentioned but with the mindset of outsiders.

Cong Phuong was eliminated from the Vietnam national team.

Coach Kim Sang-sik was bold in eliminating key players that he felt were no longer suitable for the team's current playing philosophy.

Explaining the decision of the Korean coach, the VFF homepage wrote: " The most regrettable absence probably belongs to central defender Que Ngoc Hai. In the recent past, Que Ngoc Hai has not been in the best physical condition, leading to his inability to demonstrate a performance that can convince the Korean coach. The same is true of Do Hung Dung. The issue of age has become a barrier that makes it difficult for him to achieve the highest performance as expected ."

Mr. Kim Sang-sik's list has 2 new players, Doan Ngoc Tan (Dong A Thanh Hoa ) and Tran Bao Toan (HAGL). They are not famous, not much of aura but have very high performance, contributing greatly to their home team in V.League. Whether Ngoc Tan and Bao Toan can contribute more to the national team or not is still a question that needs time to answer, but at least they deserve this opportunity.

In addition, coach Kim Sang-sik puts his faith in some young people such as Tran Trung Kien, Nguyen Thai Son, Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Dinh Bac, Bui Vi Hao and Nguyen Van Truong.

Change or... lose your job

Unlike the case of Coach Troussier, VFF is determined with the terms in Mr. Kim Sang-sik's contract. The message is clear and public, understood by both sides, if the Vietnamese team does not reach the final of the AFF Cup 2024, the Korean coach will lose his job. After so many friendly matches without good results, Mr. Kim fully understands the strengths and weaknesses of the Vietnamese team.

It must be said that Mr. Troussier's failure inadvertently opened a path for his successor, Kim Sang-sik. Fans initially could not accept the fact that many key players had declined so much. But when they changed coaches and the team did not play better, replacing personnel was a must.

During the past rounds, Do Hung Dung has been a shadow of himself. When coach Kim Sang-sik watched the match between Thanh Hoa and Hanoi , he understood that he had to be tough with one of the team's staff members.

The same is true of Que Ngoc Hai. The 1993-born central defender's "sleepy" defense in the two matches against SHB.Da Nang and Hanoi FC made coach Hoang Anh Tuan publicly criticize his student. Ngoc Hai played badly in the 90 minutes against India. He promised that he would try to change but no longer had the chance to do so.

The case of Nguyen Cong Phuong is the most regrettable. He scored 4 goals and had 1 assist in 5 matches for Binh Phuoc. But for those who are "sober" enough to overcome the emotions Cong Phuong brings, the striker born in 1995 cannot play for the national team with such form.

Removing a series of key players is never easy, but coach Kim Sang-sik needs a push, a clear message to the Vietnamese team. For the coach himself, he must change radically or accept losing his job after only half a year.

Mai Phuong

Source: https://vtcnews.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-gay-soc-voi-tuyen-viet-nam-thay-doi-hoac-mat-viec-ar908182.html