U23 Vietnam: Behind the goal of defending the Southeast Asian U23 throne

The goal of U23 Vietnam in the U23 Southeast Asian tournament is to defend the championship, but coach Kim Sang Sik needs to think beyond immediate results.

Glory and void in Vietnam team

In recent years, Vietnamese youth football has had an impressive collection of titles in the region such as winning the U23 Southeast Asian Championship twice in a row in 2022 and 2023, along with the prestigious gold medals at the 30th and 31st SEA Games.

The glory is undeniable, but when looking back at the development journey of those young champions, a sobering reality has emerged: very few of them can rise to become mainstays of the Vietnamese team.

U23 Vietnam is dominating the Southeast Asian U23 tournament...

Nham Manh Dung, the hero with the header in the final of SEA Games 31, is an example. This striker is still struggling to find a solid position in the attack at his club, let alone the Vietnamese national team.

Or the 2022, 2023 Southeast Asian U23 champions such as Dung Quang Nho, Nguyen Quoc Viet, Phan Tuan Tai, Tran Bao Toan... although highly appreciated, up to now the path to the national team is still quite bumpy.

Of course, there are still bright spots such as Khuat Van Khang, Bui Vi Hao… however, that number is too small. And this must raise the question: is the U23 Southeast Asian championship really the standard measure for the long-term ambition of Vietnamese football?

World Cup goals and the role of Mr. Kim Sang Sik

Of course, the title is always an important spiritual motivation. However, if it stops at the regional championship level, U23 Vietnam will find it difficult to develop to meet the bigger goal. To go far, young players need to improve their personal ability and tactical thinking.

Specifically, the young U23 players at this time must grasp the basic requirements of modern football in terms of playing mindset, ability to adapt to tactical systems, techniques... instead of reaching the peak of glory and then gradually fading away.

But to rise up and contribute to the Vietnam team is a long story.

The third consecutive championship for U23 Vietnam in the biggest regional tournament is of course a great joy, but it would be more perfect if it was the result of sustainable development. That is, the players progress in terms of expertise, tactical awareness and professionalism in training and living.

Remember, the current U23 players will be 28-29 years old in 2034 - the peak stage of their careers to shoulder the World Cup dream for the country's football.

Therefore, the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 tournament should be seen as a test, an opportunity for coach Kim Sang Sik to hone, shape and filter the best rough diamonds for the future Vietnam team instead of just bringing home another championship.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/u23-viet-nam-phia-sau-muc-tieu-bao-ve-ngoi-vuong-u23-dong-nam-a-2422097.html