Vietnam Team: Questions for Coach Kim Sang Sik

The September 2025 training session of the Vietnamese team has a very different color. However, behind the purpose of renewal, Coach Kim Sang's choices leave many question marks.

Strange winds and refreshing waves

Without the pressure of an official tournament, coach Kim Sang Sik boldly carried out a remarkable personnel revolution for the Vietnamese team during the FIFA Days gathering in September.

Looking at the list of players called up this time, the change is the most noticeable. A series of familiar names and considered pillars in their positions such as goalkeeper Dang Van Lam, Nguyen Filip or central defender Bui Tien Dung are all absent.

Coach Kim Sang Sik did not call up veteran players for the FIFA Days 9/2025 training session

Instead, coach Kim Sang Sik has given opportunities to many new recruits and young faces with potential such as Dinh Quang Kiet, Pham Gia Hung, Tran Hoang Phuc and goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan.

This "blood change" became even more profound when important factors such as Quang Hai or Hai Long were forced to withdraw at the last minute due to injury.

Obviously, Mr. Kim's intention is very specific: to take advantage of the time when FIFA Days has no official matches to screen, evaluate and search for new factors to create squad depth, increase competitiveness and prepare for a long journey towards future goals.

To the question marks for Mr. Kim Sang Sik

Although the main purpose of the experiment is testing, with two friendly matches against strong clubs CAHN and Nam Dinh , the performance of the players is still an important measure. This is an opportunity to assemble new pieces, shape the playing style and these experiments can be used in the future.

However, the problem lies in the fact that some of Coach Kim Sang Sik's choices have caused great surprise. The summoning of names like Hoang Phuc, Quang Kiet or especially the case of Phan Du Hoc being called up is surprising fans.

The Korean captain's decisions are causing controversy.

For example, Du Hoc, although he plays regularly for HAGL, this left-back is often criticized for making positional mistakes and making unsafe plays, typically in the loss to B.TP.HCM (round 1) or against CA TP.HCM Club (round 3).

The next and biggest question mark is that players who are playing very well are not on the list, such as Tran Dinh Trong, Vo Minh Trong, especially Mai Sy Hoang.

The Ha Tinh defender had an explosive 2024/25 season, and has been playing extremely well in the last 3 rounds and is considered one of the best full-backs in the V-League, but has not been given a chance.

Coach Kim Sang Sik is looking to shape his own style and personnel, accepting controversy. This may be the necessary boldness to renew the Vietnam team, but it can also be a double-edged sword if the choices are not really convincing.

Therefore, the upcoming friendly matches will no longer be a mere test. Because it is a measure for the Korean coach's personnel decisions.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/tuyen-viet-nam-nhung-dau-hoi-danh-cho-hlv-kim-sang-sik-2438007.html