Filip Nguyen will once again miss out on the Vietnam national team's November selection.
Returning to the starting lineup after injury, Filip Nguyen still missed the Vietnam national team's November squad; coach Kim Sang-sik chose three other goalkeepers, as announced by the VFF.
Despite returning to play for Hanoi Police and starting in goal in the 1-2 defeat against Macarthur in the AFC Cup on the afternoon of November 6th, goalkeeper Filip Nguyen was not included in the Vietnam national team's November squad announced by coach Kim Sang-sik. According to information from the VFF, the three goalkeepers selected are Dang Van Lam, Nguyen Dinh Trieu, and Nguyen Van Viet; while Tran Trung Kien has been called up to the Vietnam U23 team to prepare for the SEA Games.
List of goalkeepers and the picture of the goalposts for the Vietnamese national team.
According to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), the three goalkeepers selected for the November training camp are Dang Van Lam, Nguyen Dinh Trieu, and Nguyen Van Viet. Filip Nguyen's absence is surprising as he has recovered from injury and recently returned to playing. Additionally, Tran Trung Kien has been transferred to the Vietnam U23 team to prepare for the SEA Games, thus opening up opportunities for the aforementioned goalkeepers in the national team.
| Location | Player | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Goalkeeper | Dang Van Lam | Vietnam National Team in November |
| Goalkeeper | Nguyen Dinh Trieu | Vietnam National Team in November |
| Goalkeeper | Nguyen Van Viet | Vietnam National Team in November |
| Goalkeeper | Tran Trung Kien | Join the Vietnam U23 team preparing for the SEA Games. |
Filip Nguyen's return and injury timeline.
This Vietnamese-Australian goalkeeper suffered a recurrence of his injury during the match between Hanoi Police and Macarthur on October 23rd at Hang Day Stadium, which sidelined him for nearly two weeks. Although initially expected to need two months to recover, Filip returned sooner and was able to participate in the return match in Australia, starting in goal in the 1-2 defeat on November 6th.
Since the 2024 AFF Cup, Filip Nguyen's opportunities with the national team have been inconsistent: he missed the March training camp, only returned for the 0-4 defeat against Malaysia in June, and then was absent again for the two matches against Nepal in October. This series of interruptions makes his continued absence from the November call-up a noteworthy point.
Expert perspective: form at CAHN and the coaching staff's decision.
During Filip's injury recovery period, coach Mano Polking gave young goalkeeper Vu Thanh Vinh (born in 2005) a chance. Thanh Vinh made a positive impression with two clean sheets, contributing to Hanoi Police's two consecutive victories in the AFC Cup. Conversely, in the match where Filip returned to goal, Hanoi Police lost to Macarthur 1-2.
Filip Nguyen's absence from the Vietnam national team in November is seen as a tactical decision by coach Kim Sang-sik. Given the competition for the goalkeeping position and the fact that call-up decisions depend on the team's personnel plan for each match, Filip's experience remains a valuable asset for future training camps.
Impact ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers
The Vietnamese national team will face Laos on November 18th in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. Finalizing the goalkeeper list early helps the coaching staff stabilize the starting lineup and prepare for various match scenarios, while absent players like Filip Nguyen still have a chance to return in subsequent training camps if they meet the fitness and match rhythm requirements.
Given his performances upon his timely return from injury, coupled with his experience, Filip remains a noteworthy option in goal for the near future. However, at this point, coach Kim Sang-sik's decision reflects a preference for goalkeepers who are currently performing consistently, according to the coaching staff's assessment.
