Xuân Son or Hoàng Hên may not necessarily be able to 'carry' the Vietnam national team.

Although naturalized players like Hendrio (Đỗ Hoàng Hên) and Xuân Son promise to bring fresh energy, given the current unconvincing style of the Vietnam national team, they might not significantly boost the squad’s performance.

On October 16, midfielder Hendrio officially became a Vietnamese citizen under the new name Đỗ Hoàng Hên. He is eligible to play for Hanoi FC in the 2025-2026 V-League and could soon join the Vietnam national team after completing the playing formalities. However, if called up in upcoming training camps, Hendrio and other notable names like Xuân Son may still struggle to help the team overcome its current challenges, as the issues lie mainly in the playing style and team spirit under coach Kim Sang Sik.

In the two matches against Nepal in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, although Vietnam won 3-1 in the first leg, they missed numerous chances that could have led to a more decisive score. In the rematch on October 14, coach Kim Sang Sik’s players took nearly 20 shots but managed to score only once. The attack was inefficient, while the defense showed moments of lapses and exposed vulnerabilities, allowing the opponents to create dangerous threats.

After the match, coach Kim Sang Sik openly shared: "Although we had many shooting attempts and should have scored more goals, scoring three goals is still an achievement. We need to be more precise in finishing to increase our goal tally.". The Korean coach also praised the opponents: “I think Nepal performed quite well, especially in terms of fitness. They posed many challenges to us throughout the match.”

The victory over Nepal only temporarily placed Vietnam second in Group F with 9 points, but the chance to advance is no longer fully under their control. After the 0-4 loss to Malaysia, the team’s mentality has been somewhat affected, leading to less confident and less sharp plays. This is the time for coach Kim Sang Sik to provide more opportunities to young players, ignite their hunger and fighting spirit, and diversify tactics to improve attacking efficiency.

Additionally, coach Kim Sang Sik is eager for the return of key players like Quang Hải, Bùi Hoàng Việt Anh, and Văn Hậu — experienced individuals capable of making a difference. Their comeback could help the team regain balance between offense and defense, while boosting the confidence of younger teammates. However, integrating veteran players with naturalized newcomers such as Đỗ Hoàng Hên, if called up by the head coach, alongside a proven player like Xuân Son, requires careful planning to avoid a patchy and disconnected style of play.

Despite many issues needing improvement, the presence of naturalized players, the return of key figures, and changes from coach Kim Sang Sik could offer an opportunity for the Vietnam national team to improve in the near future. Will this combination be enough for the "Golden Star Warriors" to regain their strength and former image?