Challenge for U.22 Vietnam
Yesterday (January 25), the 33rd SEA Games organizing committee approved a regulation that only allows U.22 players (expected to be born from January 1, 2003 onwards) to participate in men's football. This means that teams, including U.22 Vietnam, can only use a squad consisting entirely of players under 23 years old. There will be no possibility of using 2 to 3 overage players like before.
The rules of the 33rd SEA Games pose a significant challenge for U.22 Vietnam, especially when looking at the length of history, it is not difficult to see that both gold medals of Vietnamese football have a great mark from over-age players in the squad.
Bui Vi Hao in the U.22 Vietnam shirt
At the 30th SEA Games, the organizing committee allowed each team to register 2 overage players. Coach Park Hang-seo took advantage of the opportunity to register Do Hung Dung and Nguyen Trong Hoang on the list. This was the right decision, as the two veterans both played very consistently and experiencedly, contributing greatly to the championship journey with the undefeated record of U.22 Vietnam. Hung Dung became the boss of the midfield, supporting Nguyen Hoang Duc and Nguyen Duc Chien. Trong Hoang was the persistent spearhead on the right flank, freeing up space for young strikers like Ha Duc Chinh and Nguyen Tien Linh.
At the 31st SEA Games, as the host, Vietnam allowed each team to register 3 overage players. This time, Mr. Park chose Hung Dung, Hoang Duc and Tien Linh. Once again, this was a wise choice as the veterans not only created a mature and scientific style of play, but also scored important goals. For example, Hung Dung was the author of the goal against Myanmar in the group stage. Then, he assisted Tien Linh to head the ball into Malaysia's net in extra time in the semi-final.
In tournaments where overage players are not allowed (since the SEA Games men's football is a story of youth teams, not the national team), U.22 Vietnam has never won a gold medal. Even reaching the final is a difficult task. At the 32nd SEA Games (2023), U.22 Vietnam under coach Philippe Troussier only won a bronze medal, equal to the achievement at the 28th SEA Games (2015) under coach Toshiya Miura. Or at the 29th SEA Games (2017), U.22 Vietnam was eliminated in the group stage despite starting with a quality group of players.
Self-reliance
Of course, the challenge at the 33rd SEA Games is "hard for others, hard for us". All teams will compete with a purely young squad. Without their seniors to rely on, the young players must stand on their own two feet, hone their competitive spirit and tactical discipline to overcome the dense competition at the SEA Games.
How does coach Kim Sang-sik train the young?
Coach Kim Sang-sik has a generation of potential in his hands, with names he has chosen to promote to the Vietnam national team for training such as Bui Vi Hao, Nguyen Thai Son, Nguyen Trung Kien, Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Dinh Bac, Nguyen Van Truong... These are all players who have more or less played in the V-League, or have shone at the youth level.
However, it is necessary to look at the reality that, except for Thai Son and Vi Hao, the remaining young players have not yet played 30 matches in the V-League. Some players have only recently emerged, such as Dinh Bac or Trung Kien, and need more time to turn their "rough gems" into "fine gems". The ability, experience and ability to adjust their mentality of these stars are still questionable.
Coach Kim Sang-sik can hardly expect these players to play regularly. Because how to use young players is a strategy of each team. The Korean coach can only take advantage of each training session to intertwine the young players with the seniors, to help the "young shoots" understand what it takes to become real stars. U.22 Vietnam will also have useful training trips this year, first of all participating in an international friendly tournament in China next March to hone themselves.
Having to "stand on your own" at SEA Games 33 is also... a good thing for U.22 Vietnam. Mr. Kim will have the most accurate basis to evaluate his students' abilities. Such high-dose tests are needed for young players to advance to a new level.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/khong-con-dan-anh-diu-dat-u22-viet-nam-phai-tu-luc-canh-sinh-vi-hcv-sea-games-185250126124657213.htm
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