What does Coach Kim Sang Sik expect from summoning Dinh Trong to the national team?

Following over 1000 days out of the squad, center-back Tran Dinh Trong, born in 1997, has been summoned to the national team for the upcoming games against Bangladesh and Malaysia.

The return of Dinh Trong to the Vietnamese national team is understandable at this moment. Firstly, the center-back position for the national team still hasn't reassured Coach Kim Sang Sik, as in reality no player has performed truly consistently and solidly in this role.

Not only the young players but even experienced figures like Duy Manh, Thanh Chung, or Bui Tien Dung have not shown true reliability.

Regarding Dinh Trong, he is not strong in physique (only 1.73m tall), not strong in aerial duels, not strong in speed, and is not a type of center-back with great physical power.

In compensation, Dinh Trong is highly rated for his positioning and timing abilities. He has good situational judgment to intervene effectively. In other words, Dinh Trong is a center-back who plays more with intelligence, more with "reading" the situation.

He was placed as a starter by Coach Mano Polking in 15 out of 16 matches for CAHN in this season's V-League and contributed significantly to helping CAHN become the team with the fewest losses (only 1) and the least conceded goals in V-League (13 goals) up to now, firmly holding the top spot.

In this call-up, the Vietnamese national team also lacks Bui Tien Dung (injured) while Thanh Chung is not in high form.

Therefore, the return of Dinh Trong is understandable. If given the chance to play, he will have no issues playing alongside teammates who regularly start together at CAHN like Van Hau, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, Bui Hoang Viet Anh. He also has no problem playing with Duy Manh, as the two have played together for the U23 Vietnam and the national team before.

This is the first time Dinh Trong has been called up to the Vietnamese national team under Coach Kim Sang Sik. The most recent time he wore the national team jersey was in the 4-0 victory over Singapore on September 21, 2022.

Returning to the national team after such a long absence is both motivation and pressure for Dinh Trong. Coach Kim Sang Sik has given him an opportunity, and clearly he has a strong motivation to prove himself, to repay the trust of the Korean coach.

But on the other hand, Dinh Trong needs to immediately "impress" Coach Kim Sang Sik if given a chance to play, because the competition is not easy as many players are competing for starting spots in the national team's center-back position.

The Vietnamese national team has secured qualification for the 2027 Asian Cup Finals, and the two matches against Bangladesh and Malaysia are tests for Coach Kim Sang Sik to evaluate players, including center-backs, to establish a "standard" core framework for the Asian Cup.

By summoning Dinh Trong, Coach Kim Sang Sik clearly expects him to bring more stability and solidity to the defensive play of the Vietnamese national team. Can Dinh Trong create a difference compared to other center-backs who have been given playing opportunities by Coach Kim Sang Sik? We have to wait and see.