Boldly innovate, towards the World Cup

The success of Vietnamese football in the 2017-2022 period is the result of changes in youth training in previous years. Now, to take a step forward and realize the dream of the World Cup in 2026 or beyond, Vietnamese football must continue to create and nurture the next generation of Cong Phuong and Quang Hai. Finding a way to do that is the task of the 9th term executive committee of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

Returning to the starting point means a lot of difficulties and pressure. In the first year of the new executive committee's term, Vietnamese youth football has not had good results in tournaments. However, VFF is still steadfast because the important goal is a long journey.

Turning Point

In 2023, the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) made important and somewhat bold decisions about youth football. First, at a time when tournaments such as the 19th ASIAD, the 2024 AFC U23 qualifiers and the 2023 Southeast Asian U23 tournament took place very close together, coinciding with the domestic tournament schedule, the VFF decided to use 3 teams with many different personnel. This is unprecedented.

Many young players are trusted in the Vietnam U23 team and the Vietnam national team.

Firstly, managers understand that the interests of the national team and the club need to be balanced. Therefore, it is not possible to call up all the best young players for an unofficial tournament like the U23 Southeast Asian Championship. On the contrary, this is an opportunity for young players from the 2003-2006 generation, who can develop strongly and reach maturity before the 2030 World Cup.

Therefore, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan, as the most successful domestic coach with youth football, was trusted to lead the Vietnam U23 team. He boldly gave opportunities to many names such as Manh Hung, Nguyen Hoang, Minh Quang, Dang Duong, Huu Tuan, Le Dinh Long Vu. This was even a playground to help some names that were not in good form such as Van Chuan, Van Khang, Quoc Viet find themselves again.

At ASIAD 19, VFF has a strategy of using mostly U20 players - those who will really enter the explosive phase of their careers in the next 3-6 years. In fact, when not many young players can compete in the V-League, this is a reasonable move.

In addition, the youth teams are regularly trained and compete in many international tournaments, which is also the effort of football managers. Young players need to play as much as possible to quickly mature.

Boldly innovate, accept criticism

In fact, just one championship in the U23 Southeast Asian tournament cannot satisfy the fans of the Vietnamese youth teams, the public needs more than that. The U20 Vietnam and U17 Vietnam teams have left their mark in the Asian tournament, but the final result is that they failed to get past the group stage. Similarly, the Vietnam Olympic team also had to stop early at the 19th ASIAD.

It is a performance risk when VFF accepts to choose younger players than the prescribed limit to participate in tournaments.

Vietnamese youth football still has a lot of work to do.

After the 19th ASIAD in China, Coach Hoang Anh Tuan frankly shared with VTC News: " It is true that we have faced pressure from public opinion when the teams have not been successful in terms of results. But this is understandable, fans always want to see their players win.

However, the youth football strategy that VFF is currently applying is completely correct. Young players need many international matches to quickly mature. I myself am very honored to contribute to Vietnamese football in such a way, although I myself am sometimes pressured and tired. But the World Cup orientation is not a story of a day or two, it is a long-term journey of Vietnamese football .

To aim for the World Cup, Vietnamese football probably needs more investment and above all patience from football managers and fans. Recent youth tournaments show that the players are not close to the top level of the continent. Therefore, Vietnamese youth football in general and the national team in particular still have a lot of work to do to achieve the big dream set by the 9th VFF.

Mai Phuong

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