It is worth mentioning that just at the beginning of this year, after winning the ASEAN Cup 2024, another VFF leader said that 2025 will be the time when Vietnamese football affirms its position in the region and continent. When making such a statement, people understood that Vietnamese football was truly at its peak - at least in the region. But why, just a few months later, is it so painful?
Because many people are deluding about their strength, calling the loss at Bukit Jalil a shock.But those who are real do not even call it a shock but just a consequence.Not because the opponent is too strong but because we are weakening.
pain is coming of age, but on the condition of knowing how to react to pain.If we only stop at concern and regret, then go back and forth, then it is not maturity, but stagnation.
If it were just for a loss, Brazilian football would have had to do something terrible after a 1-7 loss to Germany at the 2014 World Cup. But for Vietnamese football, the recent loss is a painting, a picture of the past journey. Over the years, I have been very familiar with the calls for investment in youth training, raising the level of the V. League, upgrading club standards, building a foundation for the long term... But concrete actions are the opposite.
The team's achievements, after all, no matter how important, are just the tip. But when the root - that is, the national championship, the club system, and youth training - are not strong, the early and late crunches will also fail.
Now is the time for a real reaction. taken drastic action. Reduce dependence on short-term campaigns, be steadfast in long-term development paths, and professionalize all stages of domestic football operations. It may not be an early return to the rails, but at least, we will not have to "set our hair" because of the sudden collapses.
Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% is how you react. Waiting for a real reaction from Vietnamese football.
