The value of Cong Phuong and Ngoc Hai
With their absence from the training trip in Korea, it is almost certain that Cong Phuong and Que Ngoc Hai will not be present at the AFF Cup 2024.
Coach Kim Sang-sik's decision, although controversial, needs to be respected. Speaking to the press after the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Annual Congress, VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu affirmed: "Mr. Kim has visited many football fields in Vietnam to monitor and evaluate players. He and his assistants have their own plans to use people. The viewpoint of VFF and the professional committees is to respect the head coach's decision."
Coach Kim Sang-sik and the coaching staff have carefully calculated
The VFF said that the reason for not calling Ngoc Hai was his poor physical condition. The 31-year-old central defender had just returned from injury and was assessed by coach Hoang Anh Tuan (Binh Duong Club) as not physically fit enough to handle the situation. Ngoc Hai also made a mistake in the match against India in October, indicating that the player needs more time to regain his form.
With Cong Phuong, regrets appear more because he has scored 5 goals in the first division, but for a long time, the first division has not been an accurate basis for evaluating a player's ability. For example, in the 10 most recent players to win the top scorer title, only Nguyen Thanh Nhan has played for the Vietnam national team. But in fact, Thanh Nhan was promoted to the national team thanks to Coach Philippe Troussier's favor (because Nhan was brought to PVF from Tay Ninh by Mr. Troussier), rather than his ability.
Cong Phuong also faces physical barriers. He only played about 100 minutes in 2 years in Japan. When he first joined Binh Phuoc Club, the striker born in 1995 had to practice physical recovery with a separate training program. Cong Phuong has played well in the past month, but not enough to compete with players who have played regularly in the past 2 years.
Cong Phuong in Binh Phuoc Club jersey
PHOTO: BINH PHUOC CLUB
However, missing the AFF Cup 2024 does not mean that the door to the Vietnamese national team is closed for both of them. Because the AFF Cup is a short tournament (taking place in nearly 1 month), forcing coach Kim Sang-sik to choose people according to his own set of criteria: meeting physical requirements, being suitable for a certain philosophy, having good form and feeling for the ball.
The 30 players selected for training are not necessarily the best, but are the most suitable for the AFF Cup 2024 in Mr. Kim's opinion.
Conversely, those who are absent do not mean they are not good enough, but simply not suitable at this time.
The door to the Vietnamese team closed in this tournament, but will open in another tournament, with a more suitable context for the names that "missed the boat" to the AFF Cup 2024.
Rewards for the Ambitious
The Vietnamese team is not only aiming for the AFF Cup 2024. After this tournament, Mr. Kim and his team still have a very important task: winning tickets to the Asian Cup 2027, or further, preparing for the AFF Cup 2026 and the World Cup 2030 qualifiers.
Coach Kim Sang-sik still needs stars who have proven their abilities and are experienced in international arenas such as Cong Phuong, Ngoc Hai or Hung Dung.
Center back Que Ngoc Hai
Most importantly, the stars must demonstrate their ambition, professionalism and dedication even when not called up.
For Que Ngoc Hai, the task is to "swallow" the physical training program, improve his physical condition and regain his peak form. The central defender born in 1993 is being personally monitored by a physical trainer and is determined to improve his performance to consolidate his position at Binh Duong Club, once again catching the eye of coach Kim Sang-sik.
Or for Cong Phuong, it is to maintain stable performance at Binh Phuoc Club, taking advantage of the stepping stone to improve technical tactics and rebuild physical foundation. After 2 unsuccessful years at Yokohama FC, the 29-year-old striker needs at least 1 year of continuous playing to regain his physical condition. With determination and willpower, the day Cong Phuong returns to the national team is not far away.
Coach Kim Sang-sik does not give preferential treatment to anyone. He wants to watch his students gradually regain their position. When they have enough determination, Cong Phuong and Ngoc Hai will be selected again. Only then will their place in the national team be valuable!
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/cong-phuong-va-que-ngoc-hai-hay-no-luc-thay-kim-van-cho-doi-185241124163126267.htm
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