The 'forgotten' generation in the Vietnam national team: Back and more dangerous than ever

The November training session of the Vietnamese national team witnessed the presence of many new faces, most of whom belonged to the 2000 generation who once struggled to find recognition.

The strange generation of the Vietnam team

In the Vietnam national team training session in November, coach Kim Sang-sik called up two new players. They were central defender Khong Minh Gia Bao and striker Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong. In addition, striker Pham Gia Hung was also an "old but new" player, having just joined the team in the previous training session.

All three players were born in 2000. They are representatives of a generation that was once very potential, but struggled to find recognition in both the V-League and the Vietnam national team.

Talking about the youth tournament marks of the 2000 generation, we cannot ignore the impressive achievement in 2016, when the U.16 Vietnam team of coach Dinh The Nam won a ticket to the quarter-finals of the U.16 Asia.

Khong Minh Gia Bao (white shirt) is called up to the national team for the first time

PHOTO: Ho Chi Minh City Police Club

In the group stage, Nguyen Huu Thang and his teammates lost 0-7 to U.16 Japan in the opening match. In the match against U.16 Australia, U.16 Vietnam let their opponents lead by 2 goals, then resiliently came back to win 3-2. Then, in the final match, U.16 Vietnam defeated U.16 Kyrgyzstan (3-1) to enter the quarterfinals. Although they lost to U.16 Iran 5-0, this was still a beautiful journey.

Right before that, U.16 Vietnam also won the runner-up position of U.16 Southeast Asia 2016, after an extraordinary chase with U.16 Australia (draw 3-3, lost on penalties).

However, the talented generation of Nguyen Duy Khiem, Nguyen Huynh Sang, Uong Ngoc Tien, Nguyen Thanh Binh, Pham Huu Tuan, Huu Thang... then "sunk" at both club and national team levels.

3 years later, the U.19 Vietnam team of the 2000 generation (and 2001 generation) was also eliminated in the group stage of the 2018 Southeast Asia U.19.

When U.23 Vietnam wins the 31st SEA Games in 2022, only Nham Manh Dung, with his header against U.23 Thailand in the final, and central defender Thanh Binh, will leave an impression on the 2000 generation's journey to the championship.

Manh Dung was considered a "precious gem", and then, was only called up to the national team a couple of times. Thanh Binh was called up to the team more often, but at this time, he was no longer prioritized by coach Kim Sang-sik.

Hai Long (white shirt) is a rare pillar of the team from the 2000 generation.

PHOTO: MINH TU

At the age of 25, the 2000 generation should be playing an important role at the peak of their careers. However, at the AFF Cup 2024, the only "Dragon" factor with a role is Nguyen Hai Long. Too little, compared to a generation that was once expected a lot.

Although the 2001 batch did not last long, there was a period when they were promoted to the national team in droves when coach Philippe Troussier took charge. The previous and following batches have all had some names that have proven their abilities.

Upturn?

In this training session, Gia Hung, Gia Bao and Viet Cuong will carry the mission of bringing back the 2000 generation. Together with Tran Bao Toan and Hai Long, the Vietnamese team has 5 players from the "forgotten" generation.

Hai Long is the brightest star. The 25-year-old midfielder convinced coach Kim Sang-sik to give him a starting position when he played well at the AFF Cup 2024, scoring the first goal for the Vietnamese team, and also the author of the decisive strike that brought the team to the top.

Hai Long is increasingly asserting his role in the national team and club. With the ability to dribble, accelerate short distances, and finish well with both feet, Hai Long is Mr. Kim’s best attacking midfielder.

For Gia Bao, Viet Cuong and Gia Hung, the journey to win a starting position is still arduous. Gia Bao has to compete with a team of central defenders who have been "eating the national team's rice" for many years such as Do Duy Manh, Bui Tien Dung, but the players of the HCM City Police Club can play in a match that does not have much defensive pressure like the match against Laos.

Viet Cuong and Gia Hung are a potential breath of fresh air to revive the attacking line that is lacking ideas.

The 2000 generation has been given a chance to start over, and look at Hai Long's example. For young men just 25 years old, it's never too late to start.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/the-he-bi-quen-lang-o-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-tro-lai-va-loi-hai-hon-xua-185251108201419896.htm