Coach Kim Sang Sik's decision to exclude goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu from the 2026 AFF Cup squad has sparked heated debate within the Vietnamese football community. This is seen as a risky move, as the South Korean coach is overlooking a key player who led the Vietnamese national team to regional championships, instead opting for a strategy of rejuvenating the squad.
Professional value and regret associated with Dinh Trieu
Nguyen Dinh Trieu's absence doesn't stem from a lack of form or a loss of his starting spot at Hai Phong FC . On the contrary, he maintains his position as a top-tier, reliable goalkeeper in the domestic V.League. Therefore, Coach Kim Sang Sik's decision to exclude the best goalkeeper of the 2024 AFF Cup has caused much regret among experts and fans alike.
Looking back at the AFF Cup two years ago, Dinh Trieu's contribution was incredibly significant. From a player who had to temporarily put his football career on hold to make ends meet, he rose to become the most reliable goalkeeper. Impressive statistics show that whenever Dinh Trieu started, the Vietnamese national team won convincingly from the group stage, through the semi-finals, to both legs of the final.
The only match in which the Vietnamese team failed to secure a victory at that tournament was against the Philippines, where Nguyen Filip was chosen as the starting goalkeeper. While the overall success was the result of a collective effort, Dinh Trieu's presence always brought confidence, composure, and high stability to the entire defensive system.
The personnel dilemma and the harsh realities of top-level football.
Despite Dinh Trieu's proven influence, coach Kim Sang Sik decided to take a different approach. The South Korean strategist prioritized refreshing the squad, giving opportunities to other players to serve longer-term goals. Accordingly, the three goalkeepers trusted for this AFF Cup campaign are Patrik Le Giang, Dang Van Lam, and Tran Trung Kien.
The Vietnamese national team entered the tournament with a completely new goalkeeper, meaning coach Kim Sang Sik accepted the immense media pressure. If the defense works smoothly and the Vietnamese team successfully defends their title, the South Korean coach's choice will be hailed as a courageous revolution. Conversely, if the defense shows any weaknesses, the decision to drop Dinh Trieu will immediately become a subject of intense scrutiny.
Although not named in this campaign, Nguyen Dinh Trieu's career journey retains its symbolic value. His story of overcoming adversity to reach the pinnacle of Southeast Asian football remains a great source of inspiration, and his contributions to Vietnamese football are undeniable.