Following the exit of the Vietnamese national team, local football analysts and regional journalists are urging sports administrators to abandon player naturalization. Bola.com journalist Hery Kurniawan stated that Vietnam should focus entirely on developing domestic youth rather than attempting to replicate Indonesia’s heavy reliance on European-born talent.
Squad Comparisons Across Southeast Asia
Kurniawan asserted that Indonesia currently fields the strongest squad in Southeast Asia when deploying its full contingent of European-based players, making the team virtually unbeatable within the region. However, he emphasized that neighboring federations face starkly different realities. Nations such as Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia lack an equivalent pool of diaspora talent playing at a high level in Europe. According to Bola.com, Indonesia maintains an active pipeline of more than 10 additional high-quality players abroad who hold Indonesian roots and could potentially be naturalized, including figures like Pascal Struijk at Brighton & Hove Albion, Million Manhoef at Stoke City, and Dean Zandbergen at Dinamo București.
Why Vietnam Must Prioritize Domestic Development
Addressing the Vietnamese national team’s strategy, Kurniawan advised against copying the Indonesian model. Vietnam possesses a strong foundation of local talent, while Vietnamese players living abroad have not exhibited the same widespread breakthrough in foreign leagues. Evaluating current naturalization efforts in Vietnam, Kurniawan observed that former marquee additions like Nguyễn Xuân Son—who impressed before suffering a serious injury—demonstrate a level suitable for regional competition in Southeast Asia, though their capability against elite Asian opposition remains uncertain heading toward the 2027 AFC Asian Cup.
