What calculation is behind the decision to call Xuan Son up to the Vietnam national team?

Despite not playing for nearly a year, Xuan Son was still called up to the Vietnamese national team by coach Kim Sang-sik for the November training session.

Xuan Son has a name, why?

Striker Nguyen Xuan Son will be on the Vietnam national team's list for the November training session, to prepare for the away match against Laos, in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

Xuan Son's return is both surprising and reasonable. Surprisingly, Xuan Son has been out of action for nearly a year, to follow the four stages of his recovery from the injury he suffered in the second leg of the AFF Cup 2024 final (taking place on January 9).

Xuan Son's journey over the past 10 months has been a series of days of rehabilitation and therapy, then returning to training without the ball, then training with the ball in the Nam Dinh Club shirt.

Xuan Son is about to return to the Vietnam national team

PHOTO: MINH TU

The 28-year-old striker appeared in the final minutes of the friendly match between Nam Dinh and PVF-CAND Youth in October. Those were Xuan Son's first touches of the ball in a "trial by fire" match. Although Xuan Son was running hard, his steps after many months of rest were not as smooth as the first day. Xuan Son's touches, receiving, and passing needed more time to perfect.

Even though Xuan Son is the best player of AFF Cup 2024 with 7 goals, his current form and fitness are still difficult to compare with the general level after a long break. But, why does Mr. Kim still call the player with Brazilian blood?

The Korean strategist wants to check his student's recovery progress and ball feel, in order to calculate usage options for the next phase.

Coach Kim Sang-sik unexpectedly called Xuan Son to join the Vietnam national team

Calling up players to the national team is not necessarily to use them or arrange them as starters... But through training sessions and monitoring the progress of completing the lesson plan, Mr. Kim can directly assess the physical condition and response level of his students.

When he was still coaching the Vietnamese national team, his predecessor Park Hang-seo also called up newly recovered (or injured) players to the team to assess their physical condition and come up with suitable personnel plans.

Xuan Son returns in the friendly match between Nam Dinh and PVF-CAND Youth

PHOTO: NAM DINH CLUB

Because in the November training session, the Vietnamese team will only play one match against a lower-level opponent (Laos), so Mr. Kim can use a priority slot for Xuan Son.

The striker born in 1997 is completely worthy of the favor. He is still the most comprehensive and classy striker to ever wear the Vietnam national team shirt. Xuan Son has strength, stamina, the ability to compete in one-on-one matches, and the ability to finish and convert opportunities.

One year after Xuan Son retired, the Vietnamese national team's scoring efficiency has declined. Despite trying many personnel, from mature players like Tien Linh, Gia Hung, to young players like Dinh Bac, Mr. Kim has not found a worthy replacement for Nam Dinh's striker.

Mr. Kim reorganized the attack line.

It was Xuan Son's excellence that helped the Vietnamese team save many steps in the attack phase.

The 28-year-old striker only needs a decent pass, then he can handle everything himself. That is a quality that no other Vietnamese striker has. However, depending on Xuan Son is a "double-edged sword".

Xuan Son needs to carefully calculate his return route.

PHOTO: VFF

When Xuan Son is absent, the Vietnamese team has many problems. A system needs to be built completely, not depending on any individual. Xuan Son will return, but coach Kim Sang-sik needs more diverse tactics, in case his students play below their ability.

The Vietnamese team can have Xuan Son at his best in March 2026, when he returns to play for Nam Dinh Club, having another 5 months to regain his ball feeling. From now until Xuan Son returns, coach Kim Sang-sik will most likely use his student in the most careful and calculated way possible.

Every step needs to be carefully considered, avoiding painful lessons about players re-injuring themselves due to returning to competition too soon (or playing through pain).

Xuan Son is still a valuable asset of the Vietnam team. When the Nam Dinh striker returns, Mr. Kim's team will regain its inherent attacking firepower.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/toan-tinh-nao-dang-sau-quyet-dinh-goi-xuan-son-len-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-185251103104238535.htm