It's not easy to get through…

A "2-in-1" solution for the national team.

After the Vietnamese national team reclaimed the AFF Cup title from Thailand, domestic football fans are undoubtedly hoping that the U23 national team will win the SEA Games men's football championship from Indonesia. In addition, we must continue our success in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, finishing top of Group D in the third round (comprising Vietnam, Laos, Nepal, and Malaysia), thereby securing a place in the 2027 Asian Cup finals.

Coach Kim Sang-sik will soon be planning the Vietnamese national team's lineup for 2025.

To succeed with both the senior national team and the U23 national team in two different tournaments, coach Kim Sang-sik had to plan very carefully. He had to build a squad that was both highly competitive and had a long-term future. This squad, built on continuity, will be implemented by coach Kim Sang-sik in the upcoming 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers (starting March 25).

For example, in matches against weaker teams like Laos and Nepal, coach Kim Sang-sik will give many players under the age of 23 a chance to prove themselves. This can help these players improve their confidence and experience by playing alongside senior players in the national team, and also help coach Kim Sang-sik more fully assess the abilities of young players in preparation for the SEA Games.

Conversely, in matches against our main rival in Group D of the 2027 Asian Cup third round qualifiers, Malaysia, coach Kim Sang-sik will prioritize key players, using the strongest possible Vietnamese football squad to face the strongest opponent. In matches against strong opponents, which are crucial for securing a ticket to the Asian tournament, only players with strong character and experience can withstand the pressure from the opponent and the fans. Players with strong character will know how to overcome the most difficult moments, when they are pushed into a difficult situation by their opponents.

Different opponents, different match characteristics, coach Kim Sang-sik may use different squads, ensuring that Vietnamese football both achieves its goal of qualifying for the Asian Cup and trains its U23 players in preparation for the SEA Games.

Time advantage

Regarding the timeline, the schedules for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers also favor Vietnamese football in 2025. For example, matches against main rival Malaysia will take place in June 2025 and March 2026, which is far from the timeframe of the SEA Games (December 7-19, 2025). This is a period when the national team doesn't necessarily need to experiment with young players.

Bui Vi Hao (right) is a "two-in-one" type of player, being both a national team player and a U.23 national team player, a position that coach Kim Sang-sik currently possesses.

Conversely, the matches against Nepal (October 14) and Laos (November 18) in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers are close to the SEA Games schedule. This means that if coach Kim Sang-sik uses many players under the age of 23 in the national team's colors in the matches against Nepal and Laos in the Asian Cup qualifiers in October and November, it would be a way for him to train young players right before the SEA Games campaign.

Next, this timeframe is advantageous because it makes it easier for the VFF and VPF to schedule V-League matches. If the league were to be suspended from mid-November, domestic clubs would likely react less negatively, as the league would have to be suspended anyway for national team matches during FIFA Days (the match against Laos on November 18th in the Asian Cup qualifiers would count as FIFA Days). At that time, the Vietnam U23 team could also take advantage of the suspension to gather players for training, prepare for the SEA Games, and then head towards the Southeast Asian Games which will open in early December.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-va-muc-tieu-kep-nang-nhu-da-tang-khong-de-de-vuot-qua-185250119125901986.htm