4 SLNA players, 9 HAGL players were called up to the Olympic team

Cong Phuong, Tuan Anh, Xuan Truong, Van Toan... are all on the new list announced by coach Toshiya Miura on the morning of February 13.

Hoang Anh Gia Lai players are the backbone of the Vietnam Olympic team. Photo: Duc Dong

Hoang Anh Gia Lai is not performing as expected, at least in terms of results, in the 2015 V-League, winning two and losing five matches after seven rounds. However, they are the team with the most players called up to the Vietnam Olympic team this time. Including: Cong Phuong, Tuan Anh, Van Toan, Xuan Truong, Thanh Tung, Hong Duy, Duc Luong, Van Son and Van Tien.

A total of 30 players were included in Coach Miura’s list this time, in preparation for the U23 Asian qualifiers. Of these, almost all belong to V-League teams, except for Bui Tien Dung from the Second Division. This central defender played very well for the U19 Vietnam team in 2014, and was asked by Mr. Duc to buy him for Hoang Anh Gia Lai, but Viettel Football Training Center (formerly The Cong) did not sell.

“The Vietnam Football Federation does not interfere in the team roster. Who is selected and who is eliminated is entirely up to Mr. Toshiya Miura,” Head of National Teams Mai Duc Chung told VnExpress.

Most of the players summoned are playing in the V-League. Photo: Duc Dong.

Coach Miura's list also includes many former members of the Vietnam U19 team such as Duy Manh and Tuan Tai. Midfielder Duy Manh was recently promoted to the first team of Hanoi T&T before the 2015 season and is often placed in the starting lineup by coach Phan Thanh Hung. Meanwhile, striker Ho Tuan Tai is also being used by coach Ngo Quang Truong at Song Lam Nghe An. Van Quyen's cousin made a strong impression on coach Miura after he directly watched the match between Song Lam Nghe An and Hanoi T&T in the seventh round.

The Vietnam Olympic team will gather on February 24. They will have three friendly matches with Indonesia (at My Dinh), Uzbekistan (in Ho Chi Minh City) and Thailand (in Bangkok) before leaving for Malaysia to participate in the U23 Asian qualifiers.

On March 27, the team will meet Olympic Malaysia, before facing Olympic Macau (March 29) and Olympic Japan (March 31). Coach Miura once said that Olympic Japan is superior so it is likely to take the top spot in Group I, the ticket to the next round is a one-on-one competition between Vietnam and host Malaysia.

According to VNE