Cong Phuong is likely to start for Sint-Truidense; Van Hau and Trong Hoang are injured.

Thanh Hien• August 18, 2019 07:47

(Baonghean.vn) - Cong Phuong returns to the competition list, likely to start for Sint-Truidense; Vietnam national team lacks two key players before the away match in Thailand; How will Barcelona play without Messi and Suarez are notable sports news today.

Vietnam team lacks two key players before away match against Thailand

In the announcement after the 2-1 victory over SHB Da Nang in round 21 of V-League, Hanoi FC affirmed, "Van Hau suffered a serious injury, with multiple injuries to his right knee. It is expected that player number 5 will need 4-5 weeks to return to training and competition."

This means that Van Hau will miss the AFC Champions League semi-final against Turkmenistan representative Altyn Asyr on August 20 and 27 and will not be able to attend the away match against Thailand in the opening match of the 2022 World Cup qualifiers of the Vietnam team on September 5.

Tuyển Việt Nam mất Đình Trọng và Văn Hậu ở trận làm khách Thái Lan. Ảnh: internet

Vietnam team lost Dinh Trong and Van Hau in the away match against Thailand. Photo: Internet

Sharing the same fate as Van Hau, Trong Hoang also suffered a serious injury in round 21 of the V.League. The midfielder from Nghe An had to leave the field at the end of the first half of the match where Viettel lost 0-1 to Saigon due to a torn calf muscle.

In addition to Van Hau and Trong Hoang, Dinh Trong will also definitely be absent from the upcoming 2022 World Cup qualifiers because, according to doctor Tan Jee Lim, the center-back's recovery is very good, but the U22 Vietnam center-back will need 9 months of rest before thinking about returning to the field.

This also means that Coach Park Hang-seo's favorite player cannot join U22 Vietnam to attend the SEA Games at the end of the year in the Philippines from November 30 to December 10, 2019 as well as the U23 Asian Cup in January 2020.

According to plan, on August 26, the Vietnamese team will gather in Hanoi before leaving for Thailand.

VAR technology used in the AFC U23 Championship?

According to FAT Deputy Secretary General Pasanat Supaphong, Thailand is the sole host of the 2020 AFC U23 Championship, so applying this technology will be more convenient. Currently, this country is also rushing to complete the training of VAR referees to be able to use this technology in the final stage of the Thai League 1 this season, as well as the League Cup final.

Công nghệ VAR được sử dụng ở VCK U23 châu Á?

VAR technology used in the AFC U23 Championship?

“The VAR technology used (if applied at the U23 Asian Cup) will be the same technology, throughout the tournament, with links at the stadiums in the Thai League 1. Therefore, at the U23 Asian Cup Finals that Thailand hosts early next year, the AFC is likely to use VAR technology because this is a tournament level that uses a lot of personnel and can be easily controlled,” explained the FAT Deputy Secretary General.

The 2020 AFC U23 Championship finals take place from January 8 to January 26, 2020 in the Land of the Golden Temple.

Cong Phuong returns to the competition list, likely to start for Sint-Truidense

Cong Phuong's future at Sint-Truidense seemed to be in big question when the Belgian team was about to recruit Lee Seung Woo - the player known as "Korean Messi", at the same time coach Marc Brys favored striker Yuma Suzuki for a place in the squad. In the match against Standard Liege at home, Cong Phuong was left out of the squad, but the changes in the past few days have opened up the door for the Vietnamese striker to return to the field.

First, Sint-Truidense failed to sign Lee Seung Woo as rumored. Yuma Suzuki was trusted, but the Kashima Antlers striker also failed to prove his ability. Coach Brys removed the Japanese player from the registration list for the match against Royal Antwerp to make way for Cong Phuong.

Will Cong Phuong return to the starting lineup?

In addition, the position coach Brys registered for Cong Phuong is midfielder, instead of striker like in the first two matches. Most likely, the Sint-Truidense coaching board saw the potential of the HAGL player for a midfield position, instead of an attacking position that requires speed and strength - factors that Cong Phuong cannot meet.

In midfield, the competition is also "easier" when Sint-Truidense does not have many bright names for this position. Mr. Brys's 3-4-3 formation also allows Sint-Truidense to field a larger number of midfielders. When playing at Incheon United, Cong Phuong was also assigned by interim coach Lim Joong Yong to play as an attacking midfielder when the player born in 1995 was not effective in the attack.

In the new position, hopefully Cong Phuong will be able to demonstrate his abilities.

How will Barcelona play without Messi and Suarez?

Without the two South American superstars, Barcelona will lack two fearsome guns. Since Suarez arrived at Barca, the Si-Sua duo has become a real nightmare for the teams they face. Last season, this pair scored a total of 76 goals in all competitions, accounting for nearly 79% of The Catalan's total goals.

Griezmann và Dembele sẽ lĩnh xướng hàng công của Barca trong thời gian tới.

Griezmann and Dembele will lead Barca's attack in the near future.

With these statistics, Valverde also understands that he will have a headache solving the problem of not having Suarez and Messi. Especially in the context of expensive new recruit Griezmann not really having the best form.

Coach Ernesto Valverde will most likely let Barcelona play a 4-4-2 formation, instead of the usual 4-3-3. With this formation, Dembele will most likely play as an attacking midfielder and Griezmann as a striker. This will be a risky but necessary move for Coach Valverde, because many fans were really disappointed when witnessing the performance of these two expensive superstars in the match against Bilbao.

Thanh Hien