What do experts see in the journey of the Vietnamese team at this Southeast Asian Championship? From starting with doubts to completing the goal (reaching the final) and then the opportunity to win the championship, a transformation that makes fans excited.
What created that transformation? People easily mention Nguyen Xuan Son and what he created, both "visible" (by the end of the first leg of the ASEAN Cup final, he had 7 goals/4 matches, assists, and penalties) and "invisible" (influence on playing style and teammates). However, if we compare the success of the Vietnam National Team this time to the "blossoming and bearing fruit" part on a tree, experts are still worried that it will not be sustainable. Like what happened in the past. And so, while it is not yet possible to confirm whether the naturalization strategy will be promoted or not, Vietnamese football still needs to return to the root of the problem - internal strength.
It is said that what is “invisible” has the potential to have a stronger impact than anything “visible”. Failure to apply this principle will, to some extent, have consequences. Applied to Vietnamese football, assuming that naturalization does not become the main policy, it will be necessary to create players with the physique, stature, and strength of Xuan Son.
It is not necessary for all to reach that image, but imagine that, with only Xuan Son, he can become the driving force to change the domestic players like now, until Vietnamese football trains and develops generations of players with high quality skills, perseverance, confidence and courage, how will the success of the team be and how will the emotions of the fans be!?
Vietnamese football still has youth training, but the effectiveness is decreasing. Therefore, it is important to change, focus on the roots, find the right and suitable direction. Because what is underground creates what is above ground, to change the visible, we must change the invisible.
