Not on the team list: The sadness of the 'Manh twins'
(Baonghean.vn) - While Do Duy Manh of Hanoi Club continues to be called up, two other stars named Manh, Tran Nguyen Manh of Viettel and Pham Xuan Manh of SLNA, were "abandoned" by coach Park.
1. Similar to previous gatherings of the Vietnam National Team, Tran Nguyen Manh is still not present in the list of 31 players who will gather on August 23. It can be said that Coach Park Hang-seo's decision did not really surprise experts and football fans in the country.
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Tran Nguyen Manh when he was playing for SLNA. Photo courtesy of Trung Kien |
Because compared to Bui Tan Truong (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Van Toan (Hai Phong) and Nguyen Van Hoang (SLNA), Tran Nguyen Manh is not inferior in talent and international competition experience. Moreover, the 30-year-old goalkeeper has fought at the 2013 SEA Games, the 2014 AFF Cup and the 2016 AFF Cup.
Unfortunately, Tran Nguyen Manh is not the type of goalkeeper that Coach Park Hang-seo highly values, despite possessing sharp reflexes and skillful footwork. Thus, the reason Coach Park "abandoned" Tran Nguyen Manh may be related to physical problems (Tran Nguyen Manh is only about 1m78 tall).
Having to face players of the opposing team who are over 1m80 tall, even over 1m90 tall, will put the goalkeeper of Viettel at a disadvantage. This is the basis for Coach Park Hang-seo to remove Tran Nguyen Manh and put his trust in Dang Van Lam, Bui Tan Truong, Nguyen Van Toan, Nguyen Van Hoang - all of whom have quite ideal physiques.
2. Unlike his senior Tran Nguyen Manh, in the most recent gathering of the Vietnam National Team, preparing for the remaining 3 matches in Group G of the 2nd qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup in Asia, held in the UAE, Pham Xuan Manh was one of the players given the opportunity by Coach Park Hang. However, Manh "Kalou" was unable to take advantage of it.
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| Pham Xuan Manh in the Vietnam National Team jersey. Photo: Nhu Nguyen |
The sadness of not being able to go to UAE has not yet subsided, Pham Xuan Manh received another bad news, when he was not present in the list of 31 players just announced by the Korean strategist. Almost certainly, the player from Yen Thanh (Nghe An) will miss 2 matches of the Vietnam National Team, against Saudi Arabia (September 2) and Australia (September 7).
Objectively speaking, Pham Xuan Manh’s absence in the upcoming meeting is completely understandable. Simply put, coach Park Hang-seo has a series of excellent players playing in the right-back and left-back positions. Typical examples include Nguyen Trong Hoang, Vu Van Thanh, Ho Tan Tai, Doan Van Hau and Nguyen Phong Hong Duy.
However, the door to the national team for Pham Xuan Manh has not completely closed. With his young age (25 years old) and proven professional level, the player currently on the payroll of SLNA is still in the "sights" of coach Park Hang-seo. As long as he develops his full potential, the opportunity will come to Manh "Kalou" again in the near future./.
