29 players preparing for AFF Cup 2018: Question marks about form and fitness

Luong Xuan Truong is the name that has received the most attention. His poor performance at ASIAD 2018 could not satisfy fans and even coach Park Hang-seo. Putting Xuan Truong on the list of Vietnam Olympic team to attend ASIAD 2018 was later considered a gamble by coach Park Hang-seo. In the end, he lost that gamble.

Previously, the midfielder born in 1995 had health problems and was not in the best physical condition. After the 2018 ASIAD, he immediately underwent a minor surgery to fix his difficulty breathing, which affected his training and football matches. He had to sit out for 3 weeks and missed 4 matches in the 2018 V.League with HAGL.

Luong Xuan Truong is still an important player for the Vietnamese team at the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018. Photo: Trung Thu

However, in misfortune there is a silver lining, Xuan Truong's minor surgery gives him time to relax before the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018. The midfielder from Tuyen Quang is still an important link and is trusted by coach Park Hang-seo in the Vietnam national team. Unless Xuan Truong is seriously injured, he is almost certain to be on the team.

In the 2018 season, Xuan Truong played 21 matches in the V.League with more than 1,500 minutes on the field, the most ever at the club level. He also participated in the preparation and competition process with the U23 and Olympic Vietnam. Therefore, this is considered the season with the most matches for the 23-year-old midfielder and he needs to rest and achieve the best physical condition for the big goal at the AFF Suzuki Cup at the end of the year.

Not only Xuan Truong, fullback Vu Van Thanh also suffered a right ankle injury and will miss the rest of V.League 2018 from round 21. Van Thanh has shown signs of pain in this position since ASIAD 2018.

The defender born in 1996 is one of the most hardworking players in Vietnam. From HAGL to the national teams, if Van Thanh is healthy, he will definitely have a starting position, whether it is on the right or left wing.

Vu Van Thanh has been an important full-back for the U23 and Vietnam national teams since 2016. Photo: Trung Thu

Being trusted and used, Van Thanh played too much. He contributed less to the goals of the team and the club, lacking any breakthrough. Therefore, the injury and rest for more than a month is an opportunity for Van Thanh to regenerate his energy and inspiration to play football.

Another player who has not had any physical or motivational problems like Truong and Thanh is Do Hung Dung. The central midfielder of Hanoi FC broke his big toe and has been out since the group stage of the men's football tournament at the 2018 Asian Games.

In his first time wearing the national team jersey at a major tournament, he proved to the head coach and the audience his ability and importance in the midfield. Hung Dung is expected to breathe new life into the Vietnamese team at the AFF Cup compared to the previous 3 tournaments.

In the last two seasons, he played almost all 26 matches of Hanoi FC in V.League, not counting the matches in the National Cup and continental arena. Therefore, physical strength is not a problem for this midfielder, the important thing is that he quickly regains the form he showed in Hanoi FC and the matches with Olympic Vietnam.