National U21 Tournament 2024: Song Lam Nghe An is missing many key players to focus on the national team

The 2024 National U21 Football Tournament has 28 registered teams, divided into 5 groups in a round-robin format, selecting the top 10 teams from the 5 groups and the best third-placed team to enter the final round.

If the host team finishes the qualifying round in the top 11 teams in the 5 groups, the next best third-placed team will qualify for the finals.

In the qualifying round, Group A hosted by Viettel includes 5 teams: The Cong - Viettel, Hanoi Police, Hanoi, Phu Tho and Dao Ha Football Center. Group B hosted by PVF includes 6 teams: PVF, Dong A Thanh Hoa, Song Lam Nghe An, Hue, Nguyen Duy Quang Ngai, Luxury Ha Long. Group C hosted by Hoang Anh Gia Lai includes 6 teams: LPBank HAGL, Dak Lak, Phu Yen, Quang Nam, Tay Nguyen Gia Lai, SHB Da Nang.

Group D hosted by Ho Chi Minh City includes 5 teams: Ho Chi Minh City, Tien Giang, Can Tho, Long An and Dong Thap. Group E hosted by Binh Phuoc Sports Center includes 6 teams: Binh Phuoc, Binh Thuan, Dong Nai, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Tay Ninh.

Group B is considered a fierce group with strong candidates such as PVF (the reigning champion), Song Lam Nghe An (runner-up), Dong A Thanh Hoa and Hue. This year, the force of U21 Hanoi is also highly appreciated as they are the reigning champion of the recent U19 tournament. In addition, U21 The Cong - Viettel, U21 Hoang Anh Gia Lai also have quite strong forces.

In the U21 Song Lam Nghe An list, most of the players are playing in the V.League or are on the list of the Vietnam U19 team, including: Cao Van Binh, Nguyen Bao Ngoc; defenders Le Nguyen Hoang, Hoang Minh Hoi, Nguyen Mai Hoang; midfielders Nguyen Quang Vinh, Le Dinh Long Vu, Nguyen Trong Tuan, Pham Nguyen Quoc Trung and striker Phung Van Nam.

Because the qualifying round takes place right at the time when the Vietnam U19 team led by coach Hua Hien Vinh will participate in the 2024 Southeast Asian U19 tournament, Song Lam Nghe An will not have the strongest squad, although it is still on the registration list.

However, coach Nguyen Van Vinh still has many high-quality players from the U19 team that won the Bronze Medal recently, tested in the Second Division in the colors of the Bac Ninh, Kon Tum, An Giang clubs and players playing in the V.League such as Dinh Xuan Tien, Tran Nam Hai, Ho Van Cuong, Phan Van Thanh, Nguyen Van Bach...

The coaching staff of U21 Song Lam Nghe An this time includes head coach Nguyen Van Vinh, assistants Nguyen Huy Hoang and Nguyen Hong Viet. The qualifying round will take place from July 12 to July 22. The final round will be from July 30 to August 12. According to the draw results, Song Lam Nghe An will face host PVF in the first match.

After losing to PVF in the final match last season, Song Lam Nghe An this year is very determined and is considered one of the championship candidates. However, U21 Song Lam Nghe An still does not have enough players to prepare for the tournament because most of the players are still focusing on the decisive stage of V.League 2023/24 and the national team level.

In the history of the tournament, Song Lam Nghe An has participated in a total of 10 finals, winning the championship 5 times in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2012, 2014 and runner-up in 2003, 2007, 2010, 2020 and 2023./.