Pakistan calls up 14 overseas players: The Xuân Son equation and Vietnam's squad depth question

When Pakistan's squad list was announced, the number of 14 overseas-based players immediately became the focal point. But only 7 of them play in Europe, and all are at lower-tier leagues in Denmark, Sweden, and Azerbaijan. The rest are scattered from Bangladesh, Maldives to Bhutan.

Pakistan football is heading into the final group-stage match against Vietnam with a squad assembled from the overseas diaspora community. This is not a team in the true sense, but a collection of individuals who rarely meet each other on the training ground. And when looking at the statistics, the picture becomes clearer: the 7 called-up forwards for Pakistan have scored a combined total of 9 international goals, averaging less than 1.3 goals per player.

The contrast with Vietnam's attack is stark, where Nguyễn Xuân Son has scored 16 goals in 17 caps. But these numbers, based on my experience following international matches, are not an indicator of current form, but a true reflection of the gap in class between the two football systems. This is not simply about one match.

The Experience Gap

Pakistan's most-capped player is 36-year-old goalkeeper Yousuf Butt, with 33 appearances. This number is remarkably modest when placed on the scales against Vietnam's duo: Quang Hải with 88 caps, and Hoàng Đức with 65 caps. This not only speaks to the difference in the number of matches, but also reflects the depth of a generation that has been through many major tournaments.

Pakistan, whose most experienced player is already 36 years old and plays as a goalkeeper, shows a clear structural problem: they severely lack outfield players who can lead the game. This is a long-term warning sign, not a coincidence.

Meanwhile, Vietnam is proving that a young generation is coming through: Đình Bắc, 22, already has 22 caps and has scored 8 goals. The combination of a naturalized center-forward at the peak of his form and a rising young striker is a promising sign for Vietnamese football.

The Xuân Son Equation

But it is also from this point that a tactical blind spot begins to emerge. Relying too heavily on a single center-forward is a problem that many teams in Asia are facing. Xuân Son, with his proven goalscoring ability, is a lethal weapon. But if he gets injured, or is neutralized by a deep, crowded defense, what happens to Vietnam's attacking plan?

Pakistan, being the complete underdog, would have no reason to play an open game. They will set up a low, deep block, ceding possession and territory to Vietnam. This is a problem every strong team has to solve in short tournaments. And the answer doesn't lie in a single spearhead, but in the ability to score from the second line, from set pieces, and from a variety of ways to approach the goal.

An Insider's View

I have watched enough tournaments to realize that an underdog team, with zero pressure, is often the most dangerous opponent. They have nothing to lose. The lack of information about them is also an advantage. Vietnam may know Pakistan's strengths and weaknesses through statistics, but how they will operate on the pitch is an unknown variable.

What I care about more is how Vietnam approaches this match. Will they treat this as an easy game and rest key players, or will they use this match to refine their core structure, building cohesion before more difficult rounds? The answer will say a lot about the team's real ambitions in this tournament.

Pakistan's call-up of 14 overseas players is a story of survival, of trying to create a team from disparate pieces. For Vietnam, this is not a difficult challenge, but a test of patience and finding the right form for more important matches.

The Lesson from the Cold Bench

The bench in 2026 was cold, but its source of information was hotter than the attack line. I have learned that in football, anything can happen, and complacency is the biggest enemy. Speed makes breaking news, but only verification keeps your reputation. And the summer of 2026 without a contract, but with a lesson sealed with patience.

This match, with all the statistics favoring Vietnam, will be a test of mentality and squad depth. If they handle it well, it's a perfect stepping stone. If they are careless, it will be an expensive wake-up call. Football always has its own way of punishing those who do not respect their opponent.

It would be a mistake to just look at the scoreboard and judge. Look at how they operate, how they react to difficult situations on the pitch. That is the most authentic measure of a team's ambition in a tournament.