Which goal to choose for Vietnamese football?

Experts all agree that long-term and short-term goals both have their own advantages, so Vietnamese football must make choices depending on the time.

Coach Kim Sang Sik changes direction to find talent in Vietnam U22 team - Photo: VFF

* Expert PHAN ANH TU:

Short term goals have their advantages too.

Up to now, if the Vietnamese team wants to be successful, they need to concentrate for a long time to create harmony. Doing it professionally through short-term concentration is very difficult because the physical foundation and professionalism of Vietnamese players are not high.

The success at the ASEAN Cup 2024 is an example of the long preparation of the Vietnamese team. Going to Korea for training and friendly matches creates cohesion in the squad.

The fact that coach Kim Sang Sik or VFF did not gather the Vietnamese team during FIFA Days in September is just a matter of goals.

In terms of goals, the SEA Games and ASEAN Cup are very important because achievements in these two tournaments are highly valued. Many foreign coaches have failed with Vietnamese football because they did not have achievements in the SEA Games.

Winning the 33rd SEA Games gold medal at the end of the year is an important goal for Vietnamese football. Therefore, it is understandable that coach Kim Sang Sik focuses on the Vietnam U22 team. Therefore, we also have to share with Mr. Kim or VFF.

The short-term goal of achieving regional achievements also has its advantages in demonstrating position, promoting and creating momentum for Vietnamese football.

Indonesia and Malaysia are stronger thanks to naturalized foreign players. So the development path for Vietnamese football in the future must be carefully discussed. We cannot follow the naturalization model, but following the Japanese youth training model is very elaborate.

We have had many workshops or strategies, but the difficulty is focusing resources to implement them.

* Commentator VU QUANG HUY:

Youth football is a healing and motivating medicine

Coach Kim Sang Sik's decision not to play international friendly matches during FIFA Days in June or not to gather the team during FIFA Days in September may have stemmed from the heavy 0-4 loss to host Malaysia.

To be honest, the opportunity for Vietnam to turn the tables and win a ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup finals is very difficult. Waiting for Malaysia to stumble against Laos or Nepal is impossible. It is also difficult for Vietnam to beat Malaysia by 5 goals at My Dinh.

With the current force, the Vietnamese team will hardly win against Malaysia or Indonesia. So perhaps Mr. Kim wants to work directly with the U22 Vietnam team to find motivation from young players.

Before having a new strategy to discuss, let's look to youth football, both as a remedy and a way to boost internal strength.

Wanting to achieve results at the SEA Games and also seeing the potential of the Vietnam U22 team, Mr. Kim wants to directly lead the team in the qualifying round of the 2026 Asian U23 Championship next September.

For now, finding good young players in U22 and helping them mature is also a good way.

* Expert DOAN MINH XUONG:

Not taking advantage of FIFA Days is also a pity.

FIFA Days in September, the Vietnam national team did not play but focused on the U22 Vietnam team competing in the 2026 U23 Asian qualifiers to fulfill the tasks in 2025. At the same time, finding new factors for the team. That is also a calculation.

But it is also a pity that the Vietnamese team did not take advantage of the FIFA Days to play international friendly matches. Because this is an opportunity for the team to train and for the players to compete internationally - something that Vietnamese football is lacking.

In strong football countries, people often try to take advantage of FIFA Days to train and keep the team in high form.

The blanket of Vietnamese football is too small, so it has to be pulled. It leads to pulling it up to warm the head but cold the feet and vice versa. It all depends on our resources. After 25 years of professional football, Vietnamese football still cannot make money on its own.

The stronger the clubs, the stronger the league and the national team. Therefore, there needs to be a better legal framework and policies for change. With the clubs that live today and die tomorrow, the VFF, with its resources, can only invest in the short term to achieve immediate results.

NGUYEN KHOI - Tuoitre.vn

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lua-chon-muc-tieu-nao-cho-bong-da-viet-nam-20250614210414143.htm