No record
Que Ngoc Hai did not make a return to the Vietnam national team as expected. The milestone of 79 matches for the national team is still stuck in place after the central defender's performance in October 2024.
At that time, against the underdogs, Que Ngoc Hai missed a penalty. He even made a mistake when judging the missing points, leading to the opponent's equalizer early in the second half.
At the age of 31, the central defender from Nghe An has somewhat declined in his ability to compete and read the match. At Binh Duong club at this time, Ngoc Hai's duels dispute index is only at an average level. On the contrary, the number of times he lost the ball (according to statistics from Sofascore) ranged from 9-10 times/match.
As a famous person in the center-back position, coach Kim Sang-sik finds it difficult to accept Que Ngoc Hai's performance in recent times. Although he possesses the skills he needs in the Vietnam national team's central defenders, which is to change the state for the whole team through accurate cross-line passes.
For the second consecutive time, Que Ngoc Hai is absent from the national team and this could also be the end of this player under Mr. Kim Sang-sik.
However, with signs of aging, combined with declining performance, the 31.-year-old center back's return to the Vietnam national team is even further.
Stop at the right time?
Do Hung Dung did not have an impressive career in the Vietnam national team like Que Ngoc Hai. It was not until the end of 2018, that is, when he was 25 years old, that this midfielder had his first match for the "Golden Star Warriors".
The past 6 years have been a beautiful time for Hung Dung. He and the Vietnamese team won the 2018 ASEAN Cup; participated in the final qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup; won the SEA Games Gold Medal twice in a row (as an overage player).
The 2019 Vietnam Golden Ball is also an award that Hung Dung cherishes, marking a peak period lasting more than half a decade.
When it was no longer in coach Kim Sang-sik's plan, Hung Dung accepted it as an inevitable thing in football. The injury suffered in 2021, combined with signs of age when turning 31, somewhat limited the midfielder's form.
This year, Hung Dung played 15 matches out of a total of 16 rounds of Hanoi FC, starting 14 matches. But more than half of those times, he had to leave the pitch mid-way through his fitness. This is enough for Hung Dung to understand that he can hardly contribute to the Vietnam national team at this time.
Hung Dung's case is similar to Cong Phuong, Tuan Anh, Xuan Truong or Van Duc. It is not that they lack the desire to contribute to the Vietnam national team. These players all understand that they are no longer able to maintain the physical condition and top form of about 5 years ago.
When they could not ensure the intensity of playing in the V.League, they accepted it as an end in the Vietnam national team - an inevitable rule in professional football.
