Vietnam U22 Team: Why not Van Duc?

(Baonghean.vn) - Midfielder Van Duc is in good form for SLNA in the 2017 V.League. It would be reasonable if coach Nguyen Huu Thang gives this player a chance to join the U22 Vietnam team.

On the afternoon of June 24, in the VIP area of ​​​​Stand A of Tam Ky Stadium, Coach Nguyen Huu Thang came to watch the match between the home team Quang Nam and SLNA. The "incognito" trip of the strategist born in 1972 was nothing more than to find more excellent faces for the U22 Vietnam team and the Vietnam national team.

If Mr. Thang observes the match carefully, he will certainly not be able to ignore the performance of midfielder Van Duc on the away team.

That day, the player born in 1996 played quite well in the SLNA squad. The goal that raised the score to 2 - 0 for the home team after stealing the ball in front of the opponent's toes, then quickly passing to Phi Son and rushing down bravely and cunningly to defeat goalkeeper Van Cuong showed Van Duc's excellent scoring ability.

Besides, with continuous movements and position swaps with Phi Son and Phuc Tinh, the midfielder wearing number 20 often causes surprises for Quang Nam's defense.

Van Duc (shirtless) celebrates his goal against Ho Chi Minh City Club. Photo: Internet

Exactly 4 days later at Thong Nhat Stadium, Van Duc continued to score to help SLNA have a valuable 2-2 draw with Ho Chi Minh City Club. Many people have speculated that Coach Nguyen Huu Thang will call up Van Duc to the Vietnam U22 team to prepare for the 2018 U23 Asian Qualifiers and the 29th SEA Games, after what the SLNA left winger has shown recently.

Many times, the strategist from Nghe An affirmed that the door to the national team is always open to any player, as long as that person is worthy. Of course, Van Duc is very worthy when compared to the strikers that coach Nguyen Huu Thang currently has.

Soccerway's statistics show that: Van Duc scored 3 goals after 590 minutes of play (196 minutes/goal efficiency), Cong Phuong scored 5 goals after 1410 minutes (282 minutes/goal efficiency), Duc Chinh scored 3 goals after 1140 minutes (380 minutes/goal efficiency), Tuan Tai scored 1 goal after 157 minutes (157 minutes/goal efficiency), Van Toan and Thanh Binh have not scored a single goal for their home team in the 2017 V.League.

It is true that statistics do not always accurately reflect the performance of players. But in the case of Van Duc, the number of goals that this striker has scored in the last 6 matches in V.League 2017 is very admirable.

A big advantage of Van Duc is that, in addition to the left winger position, the player born in 1996 can play well on the opposite wing and both as a striker and a center forward. Remember, at the 2012 National U17 Finals, Van Duc was the one who played with Tuan Tai on the SLNA U17 attack line and played very impressively.

The U22 Vietnam team's attack is giving coach Nguyen Huu Thang a headache. Photo: Internet

Van Duc's 3 goals for SLNA this season up to now, all came from penetrating the opponent's penalty area like a real striker. The header that broke the net of goalkeeper Esele of Ho Chi Minh City Club is a clear proof.

Therefore, the presence of Van Duc in the Vietnam U22 team will help coach Nguyen Huu Thang have more options for the attack, which is considered the most worrying area.

Having played alongside Cong Phuong, Xuan Truong, Tuan Anh... in the U19 Vietnam national team before, it was not difficult for Van Duc to find a common voice with his teammates.

With his current form and playing style in line with coach Nguyen Huu Thang's philosophy, Van Duc is completely worthy of being included in the Vietnam U22 team preparing for the 2018 U23 Asian qualifiers and the 29th SEA Games./.

Thanh Hung