So coach Kim Sang-sik and his team have started the journey to defend the ASEAN Cup championship with a match against Timor-Leste on the evening of July 24. "Protecting the championship" means "Number 1", not in Vietnam but in Southeast Asia. Quang Hai and his teammates need to prove that in the next month.
Unlike businesses that have to prove with papers and documents, the certification method of the Vietnamese team is that victories and trophies continue to stay in the tradition room. With a "data base" of experienced stars alongside Quang Hai such as Hoang Duc, Van Hau, Thanh Chung, Thanh Long, Tien Anh, Xuan Manh, a young and energetic squad of Dinh Bac, Nhat Minh, Trung Kien, Ngoc My, and especially the "repatriated trio" Xuan Son - Hoang Hen - Tai Loc, fans are optimistic about the ability of "Golden Star Warriors" to prove it.
If so, it means that Vietnamese football continues to go in the right direction, along with praise for its vision and implementation method. However, remember that it is just another step forward on the journey with many more steps from Southeast Asia to Asia and further to the world dream.
And at the same time, it is also impossible to rule out the possibility of "unproven". Then, what will be the reaction? Of course, no one will bring a record to punish Kim Sang-sik and his students, and the "penalty" is heavier than the dissection of issues on the journey of the tournament.
This summer, the Argentine team failed to prove itself to be the number 1 team in the world. At home, Argentinians still welcome them warmly, but in some parts of the world they look at them differently because of what happened at the 2026 World Cup.
Until now and probably for a while longer, Argentina's story will continue to be dug up, including from lovers and the opposite half who do not like them. Vietnamese football may not fall into that situation, but the important thing is that, from Korean coaches to stars, keep calm, make reasonable choices, choose brave, cautious and controlled decisions in their statements, that is enough to prove the position and qualifications of those who dare to play and dare to take responsibility.
