Revealing the main lineup and framework of U23 Vietnam at SEA Games 31

U23 Vietnam just had their final “dress rehearsal” against U20 Korea (1-0) and everyone knows that the lineup that will play for more than 65 minutes will almost certainly be the main lineup and the players who will be replaced later could be reserve players in the calculations of the coaching staff. Accordingly, the main lineup will include Van Toan, Thanh Binh, Viet Anh, Van Do, Van Xuan, Tan Tai, Hoang Anh, Hung Dung, Hoang Duc, Van Tung and Tien Linh.

What is a bit strange compared to many people's predictions is that Van Tung plays with Tien Linh in a 4-4-2 formation instead of Van Dat, a "tougher" player than his junior at Hanoi Club thanks to his versatility and longer and more concentrated time in U23? And Mr. Park Hang-seo seems to continue to create confusion by using a 4-defender formation, although the pair of attacking full-backs Van Xuan-Van Do still appear, but they do not play in the familiar way that the teams under this coach have long operated?

U23 players in the victory over U20 Korea. Photo: VnE

Mr. Park Hang-seo then withdrew 3 players over 23 years old and put in some players like Manh Dung, Trong Long, Cong Den, Bao Toan, Duc Viet, Quang Nho, Van Chuan... with the intention of considering specifically in that situation, how they would play? Maybe he was thinking about the upcoming tournament of U23, the U23 Asia tournament does not have a rule to have 2 or 3 players over 23 years old, but they will also be reserve players and be on the shortlist of 20 players coming here?

If the above speculation is correct, the official list of 20 people in the team attending SEA Games 31 may not include the following names: 2 goalkeepers Van Toan, Van Chuan; defenders: Thanh Binh, Viet Anh, Manh Dung, Van Do, Van Xuan, Tan Tai, Quang Nho; midfielders: Hoang Anh, Hung Dung, Hoang Duc, Trong Long, Cong Den, Duc Viet, Bao Toan, Trong Long; strikers Tien Linh, Van Tung, Xuan Tu.

At this point, many people can imagine that the story that happened in the Vietnam National Team now seems to be repeating itself in the Vietnam U23 Team related to the "gratitude" of this coach when he came to Vietnam and achieved great success in the past 4 years. That is, he always favored the HAGL players when calling them to concentrate and finalizing the list, while he fully understood that in order to play well (like the match where the Vietnam National Team won against the China National Team in the 3rd qualifying round), he had to use the best players. In the 31st SEA Games, the main squad of the Vietnam U23 Team will be the ones who started in the second leg against the U20 Korea team, the rest will be the reserve players, responding to some other story?

Of course, Mr. Park Hang-seo will not upset some worthy factors when saying that, due to Covid-19, there will be 5-7 reserve players, meaning that the squad will not be maintained with 20 players as announced but will be 25-26 people. Not to mention that a Vietnamese assistant will be assigned to "manage" all the remaining players besides the selected ones, meaning that even if they are not selected, they still have a chance, and will not be eliminated in the true sense of the word? Is that a way of thinking and acting that makes the whole village happy before, during and after the "village festival" of the lowland?

Hopefully, the key players from Hanoi Club, Viettel... will truly develop their abilities, strengths and solidarity, and share responsibility with the remaining outstanding players to create the collective strength of Vietnamese football at this SEA Games?

In this squad, unfortunately, there may not be any players from the famous SLNA youth training center. But with what has been and is happening, it is not difficult to see and "rest assured" that, this U23 generation in SLNA has no one who has achieved the level and ability like Van Duc or Xuan Manh before. Therefore, it is not strange that they were not selected, even if it was just a reserve position, especially when they are only equal to the "loyal" players who have been given opportunities for a long time?

Certainly, the successful defense of the gold medal in men's football of U23 Vietnam this time will not be simple and hopefully all the plans of Mr. Park Hang-seo will bring the expected results. Now is not the time to worry or hesitate but to proactively move forward under the command of a person who is always trusted and entrusted.

Football in general or any talented individual is related to the cycle of success and the cycle of failure, having to start over, renew in the continuous, relentless competition of all opponents. Vietnamese football is not outside that path, success is worth noting but failure is not few and must think, act more, more, regardless of the outcome, result of this SEA Games?