Cong Phuong and Que Ngoc Hai: The national team door is still open, but only for those who can defeat themselves

Cong Phuong scored against Palestine in September 2026. My Dinh Stadium erupted with chants of his name. That was a moment every Vietnamese fan wanted to preserve forever in memory. But look at the date: more than three years have passed since that moment. And in those three years, Cong Phuong has not appeared in the national team squad. Que Ngoc Hai is the same. The last time he wore the national team jersey was October 2026. Both were absent from the ASEAN Cup 2026 and ASEAN Cup 2026. This is not an impulsive decision by coach Kim Sang-sik. This is a long-term strategy being implemented systematically. The current context of Vietnamese football is witnessing a clear generational transition. Coach Kim Sang-sik has set very specific selection criteria: current form, ability to meet professional requirements, and suitability to the tactical system. Reputation or past contributions are no longer the main measure. In the list of 14 players still being monitored, there are new faces like Nguyen Xuan Son – a naturalized Brazilian striker – and Pham Tuan Hai. These players bring speed, stamina, and a hunger that Cong Phuong and Que Ngoc Hai find difficult to compete with at this point. Look at the data. Cong Phuong is 30 years old. His preferred position is a mobile striker or attacking midfielder. But in the national team, this position is fiercely contested by younger, faster players with better physical foundations. Nguyen Xuan Son, at 27, is at his peak. Pham Tuan Hai, 26, has proven his ability in many international matches. Meanwhile, Que Ngoc Hai is 32. His center-back position faces competition from Nguyen Thanh Chung, Tran Dinh Trong, and a rising generation of young defenders. Over two years without playing for the national team means the coaching staff has found tactical replacements. The louder the stands, the easier the truth hides. When fans chant Cong Phuong's name in the stands, they are remembering a glorious past. But the truth few want to face directly is: modern football waits for no one. The high-pressing defensive system Kim Sang-sik has built demands players with enduring stamina and continuous off-ball movement. A 30-year-old player with a technique-oriented style will struggle to maintain intensity for 90 minutes at the international level. This is not exclusion, but a choice of the system. The truth everyone believes: the Vietnamese national team is rejuvenating and needs new faces. But what few discuss is that rejuvenation does not mean completely excluding experienced players. The door to returning to the national team is still not fully closed for Cong Phuong and Que Ngoc Hai. The conditions are very clear: they need to maintain stable form at the club level, have good fitness, and prove their ability in the new tactical system. If Cong Phuong scores regularly in V.League, if Que Ngoc Hai shows defensive solidity, the coaching staff will consider. But that is a very small chance. When the stands are empty, the match begins to speak its true voice. During the pandemic period, when stadiums were empty of spectators, I started tracking player statistics. The data showed that young players had higher distances covered and improved passing accuracy over each season. This is a signal that Vietnamese football is adapting to modern trends. And in that trend, 30-year-old players with old playing styles are unlikely to be priority choices. The one on the bench sees clearly who is performing. From an observer's perspective, I notice Kim Sang-sik is not someone who disrespects past contributions. He still monitors Cong Phuong and Que Ngoc Hai, still lists them in the monitored players list. But he also does not hesitate to set high standards. This is a smart management approach: keep the door slightly open, but no one is allowed to enter without meeting all conditions. I don't trust my eyes, I trust what the eyes cannot see. When looking at the V.League standings, one sees young clubs rising strongly. But what the naked eye cannot see is the change in training philosophy. Football academies in Vietnam are focusing more on stamina and speed, instead of only individual technique. This explains why players like Nguyen Xuan Son are highly rated: they bring a balance between technique and physicality. Why? Because modern football has changed. The strongest teams in the world all play with high intensity, continuous pressing, and rapid state transitions. Vietnam wants to compete at regional and continental levels, so it must adapt. This does not mean eliminating technical players, but demanding that they improve their fitness and movement ability. Cong Phuong and Que Ngoc Hai can absolutely do that, if they truly want to. Sitting in the stands is like sitting in a bubble – everyone nods, no one sees anything. Fans still remember Cong Phuong with his beautiful technical moves, Que Ngoc Hai with his powerful headers. But they don't see what happens outside the stands: the fierce competition in training sessions, the physical metrics measured daily, and tactical drills requiring strict adherence. That is where the decision is made, not in the stands. The question is: do Cong Phuong and Que Ngoc Hai still have the motivation to fight for a place in the national team? For Cong Phuong, he still has many years of top-level football ahead. For Que Ngoc Hai, he could play a mentoring role for the younger generation. But the most important thing is that they must prove their value on the pitch, not through reputation. When the stands are empty, the match begins to speak its true voice. And that true voice is saying: the door is still open, but only for those who know how to defeat themselves.