AFF Cup 2018: A season without stars.

Neil Etheridge (Philippines)

On the Manilastandard website, goalkeeper Patrick Deyto revealed: "Unfortunately, Neil Etheridge will not be able to play with us at the AFF Cup."

Currently, the goalkeeper born in 1990 is on the books of Cardiff City. He is the first-choice goalkeeper not only for the Philippine national team, but also a crucial player for coach Neil Warnock in the Wales team.

Goalkeeper Neil Etheridge in a Cardiff City shirt. Photo: Internet

Therefore, Cardiff City decided not to allow the 28-year-old goalkeeper to return to his home team (the AFF Cup is not part of the FIFA competition system). Without Neil Etheridge, the strength of the Philippine national team will be significantly affected.

In addition, the absence of the first Southeast Asian player to play in the Premier League has left football fans in the region feeling quite disappointed.

Teerasil Dangda (Thailand)

Thailand's current number one striker will not participate in the 2018 AFF Cup with coach Milovan Rajevac's team. The reason is that his club, Sanfrecce Hiroshima (Japan), refused to allow Teerasil Dangda to return to serve the national team, as the AFF Cup is not part of the FIFA competition system. Although regrettable, coach Milovan Rajevac and the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) could do nothing about it.

Teerasil Dangda won the AFF Cup top scorer title three times in a row. Photo: Internet

The absence of the 1988-born "goal-scoring killer" is a huge loss for the team nicknamed "the War Elephants". Teerasil Dangda's class is undeniable. The 30-year-old star has won the top scorer title at the AFF Cup three times in a row (2012, 2014, and 2016).

Teerasil Dangda is one of the best strikers in Southeast Asia's top league, with 15 goals (second only to Noh Alam Shah of the Singapore national team).

Vu Van Thanh (Vietnam)

Unlike Neil Etheridge and Teerasil Dangda, the reason the HAGL player had to miss the 2018 AFF Cup was due to injury. The absence of the defender born in 1996 will greatly affect the strength of the Vietnamese national team. What Vu Van Thanh has achieved in the colors of HAGL, the Vietnam U23 team, and the Vietnam national team over the past year is clear evidence of this.

Vu Van Thanh is a favorite student of coach Park Hang Seo. Photo: Internet

Considering Vietnamese football, and even the entire Southeast Asian region, there are few players who excel in both right-back, left-back, and left-wing positions like Vu Van Thanh.

Recently, coach Park Hang Seo has been struggling to find a replacement for the defender from Hai Duong. Vu Van Thanh's dream of conquering the AFF Cup title will have to wait another two years.

Chanathip Songkrasin (Thailand)

The player nicknamed "Thai Messi" was also not allowed by Consadole Sapporo (Japan) to participate in the 2018 AFF Cup with coach Milovan Rajevac's team. Without Chanathip Songkrasin, Thailand's goal of defending their title will become considerably more difficult. Simply put, the midfielder born in 1993 is the brightest talent in Thai football in recent years.

Chanathip Songkrasin is shining in J-League 1. Photo: Internet

Over the past period playing for Consadole Sapporo (the team where Le Cong Vinh once played), Chanathip Songkrasin has shown remarkable progress. He is making a strong impression in the Japanese J.League 1, with 7 goals for Consadole Sapporo in 26 matches. It would not be an exaggeration to say that Chanathip Songkrasin is one of the most promising stars in Southeast Asian football.

These absences are extremely regrettable, but in return, fans in the "low-lying" region get to witness the talent of the renowned strategist Sven-Goran Eriksson (former England national team manager) in the role of head coach of the Philippines national team. Therefore, the 2018 AFF Cup still has much to look forward to.