The most sensitive position of the Vietnam national team: Has the time of the 1.91 m tall goalkeeper come?

If goalkeeper Dinh Trieu only needs one training session to convince coach Kim Sang-sik to let him start for the Vietnam national team, why can't Trung Kien surpass his senior to become number one in a short time?

The unpredictable position in the Vietnamese national team.

Under coach Kim Sang-sik, the Vietnamese national team has continuously changed and restructured its personnel in every position over the past year. However, no defensive line has been as unstable as the goalkeeper position.

When he first took over, Kim gave Van Lam and Filip each the starting goalkeeper for two of the first four matches. Then, at the AFF Cup, the starting goalkeeper position unexpectedly went to Dinh Trieu, who was initially considered only the second or third choice due to his lack of international experience and his age (33 years old).

Goalkeeper Trung Kien made his debut for the Vietnamese national team against Nepal.

PHOTO: KHA HOA

In the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, the Vietnamese national team used... four goalkeepers in just four matches. Dinh Trieu played against Laos, Filip showcased his skills against Malaysia, Van Lam donned the gloves for the first leg against Nepal, and Trung Kien made his debut for the national team in the return match against Nepal.

Coach Kim Sang-sik's philosophy is evident in his player selection. With four goalkeepers rotating over the past year, Coach Kim is still keeping the door open for the position. Anyone has a chance to be the starting goalkeeper if they perform well in the V-League and prove themselves in training. The South Korean strategist doesn't choose goalkeepers based on reputation. If that were the case, players like Dinh Trieu or Trung Kien wouldn't have been chosen.

Dinh Trieu only needs one training camp in South Korea in November 2024 to convince goalkeeping coach Lee Woon-jae to give him the number one spot at the 2024 AFF Cup. Even then, Nguyen Filip will be superior in every aspect, including reputation, class (8 years as the starting goalkeeper in the Czech Republic, having played in the Europa League), and professional ability.

But being better isn't as important as being more suitable. And what constitutes suitability is something only Mr. Kim and his assistants understand through their own set of rules. Mr. Kim once said that once you're selected for the national team, there's no such thing as age or experience gap.

Coach Kim Sang-sik is not afraid to put his trust in young players.

PHOTO: KHA HOA

Therefore, goalkeeper Trung Kien, despite being very young (22 years old), has the potential to become the number one.

Why does Trung Kien have a good chance?

His debut in the match against Nepal on October 14th (Vietnam won 1-0) was not just the beginning for a young goalkeeper.

Trung Kien also showed potential that made coach Kim Sang-sik consider him for the number one position. He chose his position well, caught high balls confidently, and possessed both composure and mental fortitude.

In the final 20 minutes of the match, when Nepal launched high balls into the penalty area, Trung Kien neutralized them all with his height of 1.91 m and long reach.

Of course, Nepal wasn't strong enough for Trung Kien to fully showcase his abilities. However, his qualities have been recognized by coach Kim Sang-sik from the U23 team to the Vietnamese national team. These abilities aren't just limited to the number of saves; they also encompass his composure, steadiness, and reliability—the core qualities that define a good goalkeeper.

Trung Kien has courage and a cool demeanor.

PHOTO: KHA HOA

Don't think that coach Kim Sang-sik is letting Trung Kien start as goalkeeper, because he's about to play in two important youth tournaments with the Vietnam U23 team. The Vietnamese national team is also under pressure to win, requiring coach Kim to be cautious with every decision.

The goalkeeper, born in 2003, was chosen because he deserves it. Just like Dinh Trieu in the 2024 AFF Cup, Coach Kim trusts his student and his eye for talent.

Although the journey to becoming number one is still very long, Trung Kien has all the qualities to become number one: ability, skill, a starting position at the club, and the unwavering faith of coach Kim.

At the club, HAGL, despite its decline, still retains its value. The 22-year-old goalkeeper has tirelessly made saves and consistently performed excellently in every match, despite playing for a team that is in extreme decline.

As for the Vietnam U23 team, he will participate in the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. Both tournaments are challenging, but they are the perfect springboard for Trung Kien to build more confidence if he performs well, allowing him to return to the Vietnam national team and compete on equal footing with his senior teammates.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/vi-tri-nhay-cam-nhat-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-thoi-cua-thu-mon-cao-191-m-da-den-18525102210530398.htm