The Vietnamese national team may use a fifth goalkeeper in the match against Laos.
Van Lam suffered a thigh muscle injury in the first training session, leaving his starting position uncertain. After using four different goalkeepers in four matches, the Vietnamese national team may give Van Viet a chance when they face Laos.
The Vietnamese national team is likely to use a fifth goalkeeper in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers when they face Laos again, as Van Lam suffered a thigh muscle problem in the first training session and his return is uncertain. This opens up an opportunity for Van Viet, who is in direct competition with Dinh Trieu.
Vietnam national team and the goalkeeping dilemma ahead of the match against Laos.
In the four matches played so far in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, coach Kim Sang Sik has used four different goalkeepers. In the upcoming match, personnel changes may continue as their opponent, Laos, is considered weaker, providing an opportunity to test new goalkeeping options.
Context: 4 matches, 4 different goalkeepers
- Vietnam beat Laos 5-0: Dinh Trieu starts as goalkeeper.
- Losing 0-4 to Malaysia: Filip Nguyen starts as goalkeeper.
- Winning against Nepal 3-1: Van Lam starts as goalkeeper.
- Winning against Nepal 1-0: Trung Kien starts as goalkeeper.
In the most recent match, Trung Kien made his debut for the Vietnamese national team. Currently, the young goalkeeper has joined the U22 Vietnamese team, opening up the possibility of continued rotation in goal for the national team.
Van Lam has a thigh muscle injury, his participation in the match is uncertain.
During the team's first training session, Van Lam unexpectedly experienced a problem with his thigh muscle, preventing him from continuing the training program. He could only walk around the field and needed a doctor's examination. His participation in the match against Laos remains uncertain.
In fact, Van Lam's performance in the 3-1 victory against Nepal wasn't entirely convincing, especially his footwork. Therefore, even without injury, he's not 100% guaranteed a starting spot.
The opportunity to debut is open for Van Viet, while Dinh Trieu has a slight advantage in terms of experience.
The other two goalkeepers in this training camp are Van Viet and Dinh Trieu. In a direct comparison, Dinh Trieu has a slight advantage in terms of experience, while Van Viet's form is considered consistent. With Laos being considered significantly weaker, the chances of Van Viet being given a chance are considerable.
If he gets to play, this will be the official debut of the Viettel goalkeeper in the Vietnamese national team jersey. Previously, Van Viet was a prominent choice in the Vietnam U23 team in the last 1-2 years.
Tactical aspect: footwork and control
In situations where the opponent is considered weaker, the goalkeeper's footwork often becomes crucial as it supports play from the back and maintains ball control. The 3-1 victory against Nepal revealed a weakness in this aspect for Van Lam, therefore the choice between the experience of Dinh Trieu and the stability of Van Viet could affect how the Vietnamese national team builds play from their own half.
The broader human resources picture
The first training session saw the absence of many players such as Quang Hai, Duy Manh, Hai Long... On the field, Xuan Son was the name that received the most media attention. In goal, if Van Viet is selected, the Vietnamese national team could use a fifth goalkeeper after five matches in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, reflecting the current depth of personnel in the goalkeeping position.
Although the final decision rests with coach Kim Sang Sik, the message from the first-choice decision will be clear: prioritize safety or experiment with new options in what is expected to be a favorable match against Laos.
