Vietnam’s national football team is entering a pivotal period in its youth transition - only to be hit by a string of injuries that could disrupt coach Kim Sang Sik’s carefully laid plans.

The latest casualty is Thai Son, one of the key U23 players earmarked for a senior team role. He suffered a serious injury during Ninh Binh’s recent loss to CAHN (Hanoi Police) FC and is now ruled out for the rest of the year. Earlier, Hieu Minh was also sidelined, raising concerns about the physical toll placed on young players.

These setbacks reflect a deeper issue: player overload. With many of the national team prospects playing non-stop across club duties and U23 national commitments for nearly a year, signs of burnout are surfacing - right when the V-League is entering its most intense phase.

Although these injuries are unfortunate, they haven’t yet triggered a crisis within the team. According to insiders, coach Kim Sang Sik remains composed. While Thai Son and his U23 peers hold promise, most have yet to firmly secure senior squad spots. In this light, the injuries delay progress more than derail it.

Still, they force Kim to make tactical adjustments. Originally aiming for an aggressive generational shift, the coach must now temper that ambition. He is expected to adopt a more pragmatic approach - continuing to promote youth, but balancing them with experienced veterans and naturalized players to maintain competitiveness.

The current injury wave may ultimately shape a more measured squad overhaul. Rather than fast-tracking young players into starting roles, the rebuild will likely proceed step by step - prioritizing stability while keeping long-term goals in sight.

In that sense, Kim is being tested, but not overwhelmed. The injury crisis, while unwelcome, offers an early litmus test of his ability to pivot under pressure, a vital skill in the unpredictable world of international football.

How the team performs in the months ahead - under both physical strain and strategic reconfiguration - will reveal just how agile and resilient Vietnam’s new footballing era can be.

Duy Nguyen