What opportunities does Que Ngoc Hai have now that he's called up to the national team?

Thanh Hung• March 20, 2018 19:32

(Baonghean.vn) - Recalled to the Vietnamese national team after a long absence, Que Ngoc Hai's chances of playing are still uncertain.

To prepare for the away match against Jordan, coach Park Hang Seo has called up 23 players. One of the faces that has attracted a lot of attention from experts and fans is center-back Que Ngoc Hai (SLNA).

In the most recent training camp of the Vietnamese national team (November 2017), the player born in 1993 was not included in the squad by the South Korean strategist. This was despite Que Ngoc Hai being in fairly good form for SLNA at the time.

Thi đấu xuất sắc trong màu áo SLNA, Quế Ngọc Hải đã được HLV Park Hang Seo triệu tập vào ĐT Việt Nam. Ảnh: Internet
Having performed excellently for SLNA, Que Ngoc Hai has been called up to the Vietnam national team by coach Park Hang Seo. (Image: Internet)

Coach Park Hang Seo's decision came as a great surprise to the public. Because, considering the overall standard of Vietnamese football, Que Ngoc Hai is considered one of the best central defenders in the last two years.

Coach Park Hang Seo's decision to ignore Que Ngoc Hai wasn't purely a matter of professional skill, but rather his attitude on the field. Coach Park was unhappy to see the central defender, who plays for SLNA, frequently involved in arguments on the pitch.

Responding to press inquiries regarding player Que Ngoc Hai, a VFF official revealed: "If Que Ngoc Hai performs well and shows improvement in the future, he will certainly have a chance to be called up to the national team."

And now that has become a reality for the 25-year-old center-back. His outstanding performances for SLNA over the past period have earned Que Ngoc Hai the trust of coach Park Hang Seo. This is a well-deserved reward for the tireless efforts of the center-back born in 1993.

However, being called up is one thing, but being given a chance is another. There is no guarantee that Que Ngoc Hai will be included in the starting lineup of the Vietnamese national team by coach Park Hang Seo in the match against Jordan.

According to the recently released list, among the 23 players called up for this training camp, there are a total of 5 players who play in the central defender position. Besides Que Ngoc Hai, there are Bui Tien Dung (Viettel), Lam Anh Quang (SHB Da Nang), Do Duy Manh and Tran Dinh Trong (Hanoi FC).

Compared to the aforementioned teammates, Que Ngoc Hai has the advantage of match experience and a long tenure with the national team. Furthermore, the 25-year-old center-back is currently in peak form, having played in 5 out of 6 matches for SLNA this season (Tran Dinh Trong, Do Duy Manh, and Lam Anh Quang have only played 2 matches each, while Bui Tien Dung has yet to play).

Clearly, Que Ngoc Hai has a significant chance of being included in the starting lineup by coach Park Hang Seo in the upcoming match of the Vietnamese national team.

Trung vệ Bùi Tiến Dũng chưa có trận đấu chính thức nào ở mùa giải năm nay. Ảnh: Internet
Central defender Bui Tien Dung has not played any official matches this season. Photo: Internet

Most likely, Coach Park will continue to use his familiar 5-4-1 formation. Certainly, the three central defenders that the South Korean strategist prefers most are Do Duy Manh, Tran Dinh Trong, and Bui Tien Dung. The excellence and chemistry of this trio contributed to the U23 Vietnam team's miraculous achievement at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship.

What is causing the strategist born in 1959 to hesitate is the position of center-back Bui Tien Dung. Since the final match between the Vietnam U23 team and the Uzbekistan U23 team at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, the player born in 1995 has not had another official match.

Bui Tien Dung's club, Viettel, won't be starting their season until mid-April. Therefore, the central defender from Ha Tinh province will find it difficult to reach his best form.

It is highly likely that coach Park Hang Seo will use Que Ngoc Hai instead of Bui Tien Dung, if the central defender from SLNA performs well in training sessions. The opportunity to start in the Vietnamese national team's lineup against Jordan is wide open for central defender Que Ngoc Hai.

Thanh Hung