Croatian 2008-born prodigy reveals admiration for Dinh Bac after joining Vietnam national team

Vietnamese overseas player Antonio Moric, promoted from U19 to U23 Vietnam, expresses pride in training with senior teammate Dinh Bac and maintains his desire to pursue his career in Europe.

Antonio Moric, a Vietnamese overseas forward born in 2008, is attracting attention at the VFF Youth Training Center as he was elevated from the U19 team to train with the U23 Vietnam squad. Speaking before today's afternoon training session (March 19), Moric conveyed his pride in wearing the national team jersey: “I feel very happy and proud to have the opportunity to train with the U23 Vietnam team. Although a bit tired from traveling, stepping onto the field already makes me feel joyful.”

The 17-year-old player did not hide his admiration for senior teammate Dinh Bac: “The player I admire most is probably Dinh Bac. I think my playing style has some similarities, and I always learn from what he does on the field.” Moric stated that despite limited Vietnamese language skills, he always strives to understand the drills and trains diligently in every session.

Comparing training intensity between Vietnam and Croatia, Moric offered a rather surprising observation: “At the U19 level, things are similar, but when moving up to U23, the intensity is much higher. When facing more mature players, everything is completely different, from individual ability to tactical thinking.” This is a challenge for Moric to prove himself in a more competitive environment.

Regarding his future, Moric candidly shared: “Currently, I believe the best path for my development is to continue playing and living in Europe. But no one can predict the future; when ready, I might return.” This information indicates Moric has a clear long-term goal of training and improving his skills in the European continent.

During this training camp, Moric is positioned as a winger. He is striving to integrate with the team and demonstrate his adaptability: “After some minor issues, I have adapted well to the whole team and feel more confident.” Being promoted from U19 to U23 allows the coaching staff to directly assess Moric's adaptability and long-term potential.

This season, the 17-year-old forward has scored 11 goals in 16 matches for NK Trnje club. Notably, in the match against Mladost Petrinja early March, Moric played only 55 minutes but contributed 5 goals, showcasing explosive ability despite recovering from injury. With this form, Moric is becoming a promising figure among Vietnamese overseas footballers, and a young player worth watching in the U23 Vietnam team.