A breath of fresh air from naturalized players.
For this training camp, coach Kim Sang-sik has called up 28 players, a mix of experienced veterans, promising young talents, and some naturalized players currently in good form at their clubs. Specifically, the national team coach continues to place his trust in the experienced core group of key players such as Quang Hai, Hoang Duc , Duy Manh, Van Hau, Viet Anh, Thanh Chung, Hai Long, and Xuan Manh. These are all players with international experience who can maintain stability for the entire team. In addition, this list also includes many promising talents such as Dinh Bac, Ngoc My, Nhat Minh, Quang Kiet, and Trung Kien. This shows the coaching staff's focus on preparing a reserve force, especially as the national team will enter a long competition cycle with many important goals in the near future.
To further strengthen the team amidst the regional trend of "foreignizing" players, a notable inclusion in this roster is the group of naturalized and Vietnamese-origin players: Nguyen Xuan Son, Dang Van Lam , Do Hoang Hen, Patrik Le Giang, Nguyen Tai Loc, and Ngo Dang Khoa. The addition of players with diverse training backgrounds, good physique, and modern footballing mindset provides the team with more options, increases competition in various positions, and enhances the quality of the squad, ensuring victory against any opponent.
Among the new recruits, Nguyen Tai Loc received a lot of attention as he made his debut for the national team. After several seasons playing in the V-League, the Brazilian-born striker has shown good adaptability to the Vietnamese football environment.
Also in this training camp, the inclusion of Patrik Le Giang adds to the competition for the goalkeeper position. Having grown up in European football and played professionally for many years before returning to Vietnam, the Slovakian-Vietnamese goalkeeper is highly regarded for his reflexes, match experience, and consistency. Being called up to the national team immediately after a period of outstanding performance at the club level shows that the coaching staff is willing to give opportunities to players in top form, rather than relying solely on experience or succession planning.
From training to perfecting identity
According to the plan, the Vietnamese national team will train in Hanoi before traveling to South Korea for a training camp from July 2nd to 14th. During this time, the team will play three international friendly matches to assess their strength and test different tactical approaches. After returning to Vietnam, the team will continue training before facing Myanmar in an international friendly match at Thai Nguyen Stadium on July 18th.
The campaign to defend the ASEAN Cup 2026 title is entering a crucial preparation phase. On the first official day of the training camp, the President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), Tran Quoc Tuan, met with and encouraged the entire team, emphasizing that the goal is not only to defend the regional championship but also to aim for longer-term goals for Vietnamese football in continental competitions. This message shows that the current training camp is not simply for an immediate tournament but is also part of a roadmap to build a strong team for long-term objectives.
Looking at the preparation schedule, it's clear the coaching staff is prioritizing building a long-term foundation rather than chasing short-term match results. The nearly two-week training camp in South Korea is seen as a crucial period for Kim Sang-sik to improve physical fitness, enhance connectivity between lines, refine the team's playing style and framework, and prepare for the 2026 ASEAN Cup.
In a centralized training environment, the Vietnamese national team has favorable conditions to convey tactical requirements and simultaneously test the adaptability of new players. This is also an opportunity for the coaching staff to find a balance between the experience of key players and the youthful energy of the next generation of players.
One of the notable challenges facing the Vietnamese national team currently is maintaining stability during the transition period. Adding naturalized players and overseas Vietnamese provides the team with more options, but it also demands consistency in playing style and strong team cohesion.
Speaking to the media, captain Nguyen Quang Hai said that experienced players always proactively support new faces in daily life and training so that they can quickly adapt to the team environment. Building cohesion among members is a crucial factor in helping the team maintain collective strength during the preparation for the ASEAN Cup 2026.
With an approach that prioritizes substance, building a strong physical foundation, and relying on a combination of experienced players, young players, and players of overseas Vietnamese and naturalized citizens, it is hoped that the Vietnamese national team will be able to defend its title at the ASEAN Cup 2026.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/truoc-them-asean-cup-2026-tuyen-viet-nam-gia-tang-chieu-sau-luc-luong-1209543.html
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