Vietnam U23 and their journey of "searching for gold in the sand"

Take a cautious step.

While in the two previous championships (2022 and 2023), the Vietnam U23 team, under the guidance of coaches Dinh The Nam and Hoang Anh Tuan respectively, had an easier time against regional opponents, this time the situation is different. It's no coincidence that the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) decided to appoint national team head coach Kim Sang-sik to directly lead the U23 team, a move that demonstrates the importance of this tournament in their long-term preparation strategy.

The competition in the Southeast Asian U23 Championship is fiercer than ever. Hosts Indonesia U23 are highly determined to win the title on home soil, while Malaysia U23 and Thailand U23 also openly express their ambition to "redraw the map" of youth football in the region.

The policy of naturalizing players, along with systematic investment from the federation, shows that this is no longer just a friendly match or a chance to gain experience. Every match is now a real test of strength, not only for young players but also for the footballing nations as a whole.

After three weeks of training and friendly matches in Vietnam, coach Kim Sang-sik finalized the 23-player squad for Indonesia, a blend of young experience and a desire to prove themselves. Names like Pham Ly Duc, Nguyen Van Truong, Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Dinh Bac, and Nguyen Thai Son are all players who have been or are currently part of the national team system, possessing good technical and tactical skills, suitable physique, and a clear drive for improvement.

It's noteworthy that coach Kim dropped a number of players who had made their mark, such as Dinh Xuan Tien, Ho Van Cuong, and Le Van Thuan, names familiar to fans. This selection reflects a completely different approach: not prioritizing fame or the past, but focusing on current form and adaptation to modern football philosophy. This U23 squad is not for "experimentation," but a serious screening process for the long term.

Despite encountering some difficulties in transportation in Jakarta due to traffic congestion, the entire team maintained high training discipline. The first training session on the evening of July 14th focused on relaxation and recovery exercises after the flight, before moving on to an intensive tactical training program starting on July 15th.

Team leader Nguyen Anh Tuan, technical assistants, and head coach Kim Sang-sik also fully attended the technical meetings and press conferences arranged by the organizers.

Performance and Long-Term Strategy Challenge

It would be unrealistic to prioritize winning championships above all else. From a sustainable development perspective, youth football should be seen as a breeding ground for talent. Past trophies, while valuable in terms of prestige, cannot guarantee an effective generational transition.

The question is: How many players from the 2022 and 2023 Southeast Asian U23 Championship-winning teams or the SEA Games 31 are actually part of the current national team?

A worrying reality at the 2024 AFF Cup is that only Vi Hao, one of the few U23 players, has secured a starting spot in the national team. Players like Van Truong, Thai Son, Quoc Viet, Van Khang, and Trung Kien are still hovering on the edge of the starting lineup. Since 2015, there has never been a period where the presence of U23 players in the Vietnamese national team has been so lackluster.

Meanwhile, according to the roadmap of the Vietnamese football development plan, the national team will begin qualifying for the 2030 World Cup from 2027 and the 2034 World Cup from 2031.

The period from 2027 to 2031 will be the peak of form for players born in 2003-2004, the current U23 generation. Investing in, discovering, and nurturing these "golden talents" in the current squad is a prerequisite for Vietnam to realize its World Cup dream.

The 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, ultimately, is not just a place to compete for the cup, but also a place to "find hidden gems." In a context where young players increasingly lack playing opportunities due to pressure to achieve results at the club and national team levels, competing in a truly competitive environment like this is a very valuable chance.

The issue isn't about winning or losing the match, but about finding the real "gold" to bring into the national team. Names like Trung Kien, Van Truong, Thai Son, Ly Duc... are all at a crossroads: either prove themselves at the U23 level to progress to the senior team, or continue to be stuck in the cycle of being a "promising player".

In football, character and experience gained through tournaments are things that cannot be bought with money. The pressure from Thailand, Indonesia, and Malaysia in this tournament will be a sufficient test to see who has the qualities to become future key players.

There are no shortcuts to the World Cup, and no "magician" can transform an immature group of players into a strong team overnight. Everything must begin with training and practice, and this year's journey in Indonesia is part of that process.

During their training days in Jakarta, the Vietnam U23 team not only faced strenuous training sessions but also the expectations of their fans and the challenge of repositioning themselves in the context of the changing landscape of Southeast Asian youth football.

We have every reason to believe we can get through the group stage, where we only have to face Laos and Cambodia, but the potential semi-finals or finals against Indonesia, Malaysia, or Thailand will be the "real battle".

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/u23-viet-nam-and-the-long-journey-of-cutting-the-gold-heart-152671.html