Euro 2024 and naturalized talent

The German summer has been a launching pad for many young talents who are considered the future of world football. This is most evident in the two teams that have reached the final: Spain and England.

Spain won the tournament, with Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams playing a major role. Yamal turned 17 just a day before the final, and Nico Williams turned 22 the day before. Despite their young age, they became the pillars, the inspiration in the playing style, the "wings" of Spain.

Nico Williams was brilliant, scoring the opening goal in the final, but Yamal made an even bigger impression. Yamal was named the tournament's best young player, after breaking a series of unprecedented records: youngest player to play, youngest assist, and youngest scorer in a Euro final. Yamal also broke the records of the "king of football" Pele that had stood for nearly 7 decades: youngest player to play and score in a semi-final of a major tournament (Euro, World Cup, Copa America), youngest player to play in a final, and of course, youngest player to ever win a championship.

On the England side, the Three Lions' style of play has improved markedly since coach Southgate started Mainoo. In the first three group stage matches, the 19-year-old midfielder was benched, and England were widely criticised for their poor performance. Since the round of 16, when Mainoo was given a starting role, partnering Rice in central midfield, Southgate's team have been sharper and more menacing.

Mainoo is the third youngest player to start for England in the knockout stages of a major tournament. He also holds the record for being the youngest player to start for the Three Lions in a Euro or World Cup semi-final.

Yamal, Nico Williams and Mainoo have one thing in common: they grew up in immigrant families. Yamal's father is Moroccan and his mother is Equatorial Guinean. Nico Williams' parents are both Ghanaian, and Nico's older brother still plays for Ghana. Like Nico, Mainoo's parents are also Ghanaian.

Morocco, Equatorial Guinea and Ghana all have less developed football than Spain and England. Without the opportunity to migrate to these countries, it is almost certain that the three players mentioned above would not have been able to make the world crazy and take their hats off at such a young age as they are now.

The stories of Yamal, Nico Williams and Mainoo confirm that the environment and training process greatly influence the development of a talent. Without good conditions, it is difficult for a rough diamond to shine.

In addition, the success of these three stars in more developed countries also shows the risk of talent and brain drain in the era of flat world. Countries will have to compete fiercely to get talent. In that game, water will flow to the lowlands, less developed countries will of course suffer many disadvantages. Even when development is even, just a little carelessness will immediately lose talented people.

English football people probably understand this better than anyone. Musiala, Germany's biggest talent at Euro 2024, played for England up to the U21 level. But then, Joachim Loew (the head coach of the German national team at that time) and the director of the Bayern Munich Academy personally met with Musiala, outlining a clear path for him to join the first team of Bayern Munich and the German national team. This respect made Musiala change his mind, choosing to play for Germany.

There is a strong connection between the flow of immigrants and the story of possessing talents outside the country. Vietnam is not yet a developed country, and has not formed a "low spot" to attract talented people. But short-term policies can be effective. For example, in football, it is opening the door to the issue of naturalizing players. But looking back at Vietnam from the Euro, I think we are too strict in using naturalized players. For more than a decade, no naturalized players have been called up to the national team, although many of them have Vietnamese wives or have been attached to this country for a long time. Even people of Vietnamese origin like goalkeeper Filip Nguyen had to struggle a lot, spending many years to obtain the nationality of his fatherland.

Using naturalized players not only improves the quality of the national team but also creates a healthy competitive environment, promoting the development of local players. Young domestic players will have the opportunity to learn from talented teammates from all over the world, thereby improving their level and international competition experience.

It is time for Vietnam to have a fresh and more open view on the use of "foreign players", not only in football. In an era where immigration, especially for qualified people, is so easy, the country cannot afford to waste this important human resource. Vietnam needs to reform and find solutions to attract experts in all fields.

Even developed countries have visa programs to attract talent. Rich people and talented business owners will have investment visas; people with professional qualifications and skills will have skilled visas; people with special talents will have global talent visas with many incentives... Vietnam does not have a comprehensive strategy in this field.

Some of my friends were granted global talent visas by Australia and have migrated to this country to work and live. I always feel sorry for such a brain drain.

Euro 2024 has proven that talent can come from anywhere and will shine if placed in the right environment. In the era of globalization, attracting and retaining talent is extremely important. Vietnam should not stand outside this game. We need to learn from other countries, improve naturalization policies and attract talent. Only then can the country make the most of its human resources, improve the quality of football as well as other fields, creating a foundation for strong development.