Vietnam National Team: Regrettable Absences

(Baonghean.vn) - On September 19th, coach Nguyen Huu Thang announced the list of 29 players who will be part of the Vietnamese national team preparing for the AFF Suzuki Cup 2016. Many different opinions have been expressed following this list.

In this article, we would like to list some players who will be missing out on the Vietnamese national team jersey during this training camp.

Midfielder Nguyen Quang Tinh (XSKT.CT)

For who knows how many times now, every time the Vietnamese national team's roster is announced, football fans in Nghe An province in particular, and football fans nationwide in general, feel regret over the absence of midfielder Nguyen Quang Tinh.

Quang Tinh (17) played excellently in the Can Tho jersey in the 2016 season.

Under coach Miura, who prioritized players with good physical fitness and build—or, to put it simply, "workhorse" players—Nguyen Quang Tinh's absence was somewhat understandable. However, since coach Nguyen Huu Thang took over the national team, the player from Do Luong has unfortunately been overlooked.

Having moved from SLNA to XSKT Can Tho after the 2015 season, the 29-year-old central midfielder has maintained his excellent form with 4 goals and numerous assists for his teammates. The captain's armband and his leadership position at the Can Tho team are the clearest evidence of Nguyen Quang Tinh's talent and influence.

Objectively speaking, considering his form, playing style, and personal ethics, the former SLNA captain is fully qualified to wear the Vietnamese national team jersey, at least in the squad for this training camp.

Striker Nguyen Dinh Bao (Hai Phong)

In the 2016 V.League season, the player from Thanh Chuong was one of the most impressive domestic strikers. Despite being only a backup option for the foreign duo Fagan and Stevens, Nguyen Dinh Bao still managed to shine, bringing satisfaction to coach Truong Viet Hoang and the fans of Hai Phong.

In the 2016 V.League season, Dinh Bao scored 10 goals.

In the early stages of the season, the player born in 1991 only occasionally featured in the starting lineup for the team at Lach Tray Stadium. But since the duo Fagan and Stevens were suspended for bowing to the referee at Cam Pha Stadium, all the goal-scoring burden for Hai Phong has been entrusted to Le Van Thang and Nguyen Dinh Bao.

Living up to coach Truong Viet Hoang's trust, Nguyen Dinh Bao scored a brace in Hai Phong's away match at Go Dau Stadium, helping his team defeat Binh Duong 3-1. Not stopping there, in the 20th round when Hai Phong hosted HN.T&T at Lach Tray Stadium, the "little airplane from Nghe An" contributed to the home team's comeback with a valuable goal.

Most recently, in the penultimate match at Tan An Stadium, the former SLNA player scored a hat-trick against the team from the Mekong Delta. At the end of the 2016 V.League season, Nguyen Dinh Bao had a total of 10 goals for Hai Phong, a feat that players like Van Toan (HAGL), Cong Vinh (B.BD), and Hoang Dinh Tung (FLC.TH) failed to achieve. Therefore, Nguyen Dinh Bao's absence from the national team's training camp is quite regrettable.

Central defender Hoang Van Khanh (SLNA)

Returning after half a season on loan at XSKT Can Tho, the center-back from Tan Ky has secured a starting spot in SLNA's defense. The 1995-born player is one of the most consistent performers for the Nghe An team during their recent poor season. With veteran center-back Minh Duc injured, and Manh Hung and Dinh Hoang also sidelined, and Ngoc Hai playing inconsistently, only Hoang Van Khanh, Tran Nguyen Manh, and Vo Ngoc Duc are the players that coach Ngo Quang Truong feels most confident in for the Vinh-based team's defense.

Hoang Van Khanh was the leader of SLNA's defense in the 2016 season.

It's no exaggeration to say that Hoang Van Khanh is the true leader of SLNA's defense, not the more famous names like Que Ngoc Hai, Pham Manh Hung... in this year's V.League. Observing the playing style of the player wearing the number 5 jersey, fans in Nghe An have seen glimpses of the likes of Nguyen Huu Thang and Nguyen Huy Hoang from the past.

A courageous and aggressive playing style is a clear strength of center-back Hoang Van Khanh. After the "scandal" in 2014 while playing for the Vietnam U19 team, Hoang Van Khanh has been working tirelessly in the hope of one day wearing the national team jersey. His absence this time is regrettable not only for Hoang Van Khanh himself, but also for football fans in Nghe An province.

Le Thanh Hung