Stabilize staff, aim for victory

VHO - Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team are training in Viet Tri (Phu Tho) to prepare for the match against Laos in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup. The "Golden Star Warriors" are having a stable force, especially the return of striker Nguyen Xuan Son, aiming to win all 3 points against Laos, thereby maintaining their position in the race for tickets to the 2027 Asian Cup finals.

The Vietnamese team will continue to maintain stability and focus to aim for victory against Laos.

Maintain stability

In this training session, in addition to the familiar pillars and the return of Xuan Son, the team welcomes two new recruits, defender Khong Minh Gia Bao and striker Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong. These are the faces who are "eating national team rice" for the first time, promising to bring a fresh breeze to the team.

Gia Bao was born in 2000 and is considered a central defender with good tracking and pressing abilities, good physical strength and the ability to flexibly use both feet. Gia Bao used to play for the U20 Vietnam team and is considered one of the young defenders with good form in Vietnamese football.

Viet Cuong was also born in 2000, possessing good speed, technique and finishing ability. In the 2025/26 season, he continued to shine in the Becamex TP.HCM shirt, being evaluated by experts as "a combination of Anh Duc and Tien Linh" thanks to his versatile ability to play in the attack. Before joining the national team, Viet Cuong played brilliantly when scoring, contributing greatly to Becamex TP.HCM's 2-1 victory over Hai Phong in the 10th round of V.League recently.

In addition, the team also welcomed the return of goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu, defender Phan Tuan Tai, midfielder Tran Bao Toan, and Le Van Do. Because this training session of the national team coincided with the key training period of U22 Vietnam in preparation for the 33rd SEA Games, some outstanding young players who had been in the Vietnam team in previous training sessions such as Dinh Bac, Van Khang, Vi Hao, and Thanh Nhan were not present. However, the team's coaching staff still maintained stability in terms of force, harmoniously combining experienced pillars and players who are performing well at the club.

Maintaining the stability of the squad is a prerequisite for the Vietnamese team in their away trip to Laos. Victory is a must if they want to maintain their chances of participating in the 2027 Asian Cup. The players must also maintain their mental and professional stability, focusing on playing well to win 3 points on Laos' field, thereby preparing for the decisive match with Malaysia in March next year.

As stated by VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu recently, although still waiting for the decision from the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) after the 0-4 loss to Malaysia, the Vietnamese team must continue to play well in the remaining two matches against Laos and Malaysia. “We cannot just wait, but must aim to win each match,” Mr. Tu emphasized.

Positive signals from Xuan Son

After nearly a year of absence due to injury, striker Nguyen Xuan Son has returned to the Vietnam national team to prepare for the match against Laos. Xuan Son was injured in the second leg of the ASEAN Cup 2024 final in early January this year and has been away from the field for 10 months. Xuan Son's return at this time is very important, especially when the Vietnam national team is in need of more breakthrough factors in the attack. Spirit and will are always Xuan Son's strengths. The 28-year-old striker is considered one of the most comprehensive attacking players that Vietnamese football possesses, that is strength, speed and technique.

After a long time of being out of competition due to injury, Xuan Son's return not only helped the team regain vitality but also ignited new confidence and fighting spirit for the whole team. After nearly a year of struggling with injury, his perseverance in training and overcoming difficulties to return has become an example for many young teammates to follow. Xuan Son's story is clear proof that the desire to contribute and belief in oneself are always the greatest strength to help players overcome all limits.

A player's effective return to competition after a long period of injury treatment is always a big question mark. In the face of doubts about his physical condition, Xuan Son affirmed that he has fully recovered and is ready to compete at the highest intensity: "Currently, I am 100% fit, there is nothing to worry about. I will try my best every time I am given the opportunity. I have absorbed the Nam Dinh coaching staff's training plan and am always ready to play. I want to play all the matches, I don't want to miss a minute, but of course all decisions belong to coach Kim Sang-sik."

Coincidentally, nearly a year ago, Xuan Son also had his first meeting with the Vietnamese team, when the team traveled to Laos, in the opening round of the ASEAN Cup 2024. Hopefully, this time, Xuan Son will have a perfect comeback to help the national team win.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/on-dinh-nhan-su-huong-den-chien-thang-181308.html