Far from Vietnam's strongest squad

The 23-man squad selected by coach Kim Sang Sik for Vietnam's November FIFA international window is clearly not the strongest lineup the South Korean tactician would ideally want.

Several important players are unavailable, including Quang Hai, Hoang Duc, Cao Quang Vinh, Xuan Son, Hoang Hen, Van Hau and Xuan Manh.

Their absences stem from various reasons, ranging from injuries and physical overload to the need for rest following demanding periods with both the national team and their clubs.

The missing players will inevitably weaken Vietnam's overall squad quality and create additional challenges, particularly as the team's playing style under Kim Sang Sik has yet to achieve full consistency.

Beyond established names such as Thanh Chung, Van Vi, Tuan Tai, Hai Long and Dinh Bac, many of the remaining players are still working to secure their positions in the national team.

In simple terms, this could be considered Vietnam's second-string squad, at least in terms of reputation compared with the pool of players normally available to Kim Sang Sik.

But perhaps the most promising selection yet

On paper, Vietnam's latest squad may not look particularly impressive.

However, the openness of Kim Sang Sik's selection approach makes this potentially one of the most encouraging national team gatherings during his two years in charge.

Five players have been called up from Vietnam's First Division, an unusually high number by previous standards.

Admittedly, none of them are entirely new discoveries. All have either previously been involved with the senior national team or played important roles for Vietnam U23 under Kim Sang Sik.

Nevertheless, the South Korean coach's willingness to look beyond the V-League and consider players from the country's second-tier competition sends a positive message.

It gives First Division players additional motivation, knowing that strong performances could attract the attention of the national team's coaching staff.

Another interesting aspect of the squad is the relatively limited representation from clubs near the top of the V-League standings.

Nam Dinh have only two players selected, while Song Lam Nghe An (SLNA) have just one representative, Quang Vinh.

Meanwhile, The Cong Viettel, despite their disappointing recent performances, have the largest representation with three players.

These figures suggest that club league positions are not the decisive factor in Kim Sang Sik's selection process.

Instead, the coach appears to be placing greater emphasis on individual form, tactical suitability and the national team's immediate personnel requirements.

This more flexible approach has opened opportunities for players performing well in the V-League, including Tran Ngoc Son of Nam Dinh and Nguyen Quang Vinh of SLNA.

Other newcomers, such as Olaha Manh Duc and Le Phat, have also been given opportunities to test themselves at international level.

There is no guarantee that these new selections will succeed, adapt to Kim Sang Sik's football philosophy or retain their places once established players return.

However, what matters is that the door to the national team appears to be opening wider rather than remaining restricted to a familiar group of players.

That is arguably the most encouraging aspect of this November gathering.

Kim Sang Sik may not have Vietnam's strongest possible squad at his disposal, but he is expanding his options for the future.

With the Asian Cup scheduled for late 2027, Vietnam need to give emerging players opportunities to prove themselves and gradually establish genuine competition for places.

Such competition will be essential to identifying the strongest possible squad for the continental tournament.

Duy Nguyen