11:05, 14/05/2021

Vietnam's national male football team assemble for FIFA World Cup qualification 2022

Vietnam's professional football tournaments had to be postponed due to the complicated developments of COVID-19 pandemic. This has created conditions for the national male football team to assemble to prepare for the remaining matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, Asian section.
 

Vietnam’s professional football tournaments had to be postponed due to the complicated developments of COVID-19 pandemic. This has created conditions for the national male football team to assemble to prepare for the remaining matches of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification, Asian section.
 
According to the original plan, Coach Park Hang-Seo and his associates will assemble the national team at Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, Hanoi from May 10 to May 26 before travelling to the United Arab Emirates (the UAE) to familiarize themselves with the ground and prepare for the remaining matches in Group G of Asian qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification. However, they assembled earlier due to the postponement of the domestic tournaments. On May 7, Coach Park Hang-Seo, his associates, and 37 players in the call-up list had COVID-19 RT-PCR tested and vaccinated.
 
 
Vietnam's national football team assemble for FIFA World Cup qualification 2022 (Source: VFF)
Vietnam's national football team assemble for FIFA World Cup qualification 2022 (Source: VFF)
 
Given the importance of this assemblage, Coach Park Hang-Seo had carefully considered the players to be called up this time. The call-up list includes familiar faces namely goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong; defenders Que Ngoc Hai, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Bui Tien Dung, Vu Van Thanh; midfielders Nguyen Quang Hai, Luong Xuan Truong, Tuan Anh, Hoang Duc; forwards Van Toan, Van Duc, Cong Phuong, Tien Linh. The players who have just recovered from injuries, such as Tran Dinh Trong, Do Duy Manh, Doan Van Hau, and Trong Hoang, were also in the list. Besides, the coach also named some young players who performed well in V.League 1 stage 1 namely Thanh Binh (Viettel), Ly Cong Hoang Anh (Ha Tinh), Le Van Xuan and Bui Hoang Viet Anh (Hanoi).
 
Que Ngoc Hai, captain of Vietnam’s national football team, said that the whole team is focusing on preparing well for the World Cup qualification. Their target is getting four to six points in the remaining qualifying matches. This is a big challenge, which requires all the players to brace themselves for the competitions. All the called up players are in their good form, so it will be a fierce competition among the players for official positions in the national team, according to the team’s vice-captain Luong Xuan Truong.
 
Vietnam Football Federation and Jordan Football Federation have arranged a friendly match between Vietnamese national team and Jordanian national team. The friendly will take place on May 31 in the UAE. This is an important match for both teams before their qualifying matches in Group C and G. All the three most recent matches between Vietnam and Jordan ended in draws. In the round of 16 in ASIAN Cup 2019, Vietnam defeated Jordan 4-2 in the penalty shootout to qualify for the semi-finals. It can be said that the friendly match with Jordan will be an important rehearsal for coach Park Hang-Seo and his players prior to the regional qualification of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Currently, Vietnam are leading Group G with 11 points; Malaysia are second with nine points; Thailand have eight points, UAE get six points; and Indonesia haven’t get any points yet. According to the schedule, Vietnam will meet Indonesia on June 7, Malaysia on June 11, and the UAE on June 15.
 
An Nhien
Translated by H.N