After Tien Linh, there is no longer a 'safe zone' in the Vietnam national team.

Tien Linh's omission from the Vietnam national team's training list is not just a simple technical decision. It serves as a clear signal from Kim Sang Sik to the players that only current performance and dedication secure a spot in the squad.

Before Tien Linh,Que Ngoc Haiexperienced a similar "shock." From being captain, a defensive icon, and the team's spiritual pillar, the defender currently playing for SHB Da Nang was unexpectedly removed from a crucial plan.

That was a heavy psychological blow, especially sinceNgoc Haihad hoped to participate in a major tournament as a beautiful farewell at the peak of his career.

But football is not a place for romantic endings. It is a stage for the present, where form determines everything.

Ngoc Hai had to learn to accept and overcome. And now, Tien Linh faces his own lesson. For many years,Tien Linhwas the "default number 9" of the Vietnam national team. The 2024 Golden Ball award further solidified that status.

The 1997-born player is a striker with scoring instinct, capable of shining in crucial moments, and always displaying strong competitive spirit. But the issue is that top-level football does not honor the past; it evaluates based on the present.

A recent streak of ineffective performances at club level is the reason Tien Linh no longer holds an advantage. In a context where the attack needs sharpness, a striker failing to maintain stable form is unacceptable. Despite a good relationship with coach Kim Sang Sik, despite still having desire to contribute and utmost effort in training and matches, Tien Linh was still excluded. That is precisely the key point.

This decision shows a principle being clearly established: no one is an exception in coach Kim Sang Sik's current team. In fact, this move also aligns with the team's current phase.

Following positive signals from Vietnam's U22 and U23 generations, coach Kim Sang Sik now has a richer resource pool than before. He is no longer dependent on a few familiar names and boldly gives opportunities to players in better form.

Tien Linh still has many chances to return. At 29, he is still in the prime of his career. The important thing is not the exclusion, but how he responds afterward. If he treats this as a wake-up call, focuses more on his craft, and regains his form, the door to the Vietnam national team is certainly not closed.

Vietnamese football has witnessed many cases of strong comeback after being dropped. And with proven resilience, Tien Linh can definitely do the same.

But looking broader, the story does not stop at an individual. It is a reminder for all. Fame, titles, or past achievements only have reference value. What keeps players in the team is today's form and tomorrow's effort.

In a transforming collective, competition is inevitable. That competition will make the team stronger, more diverse, and more unpredictable.

The decision to drop Tien Linh, as with Ngoc Hai before, may cause regret. But sometimes, to go further, a team must accept uncomfortable changes.

In the Vietnam national team at this moment, there are no "untouchable stars." Only players ready to fight to keep their positions.