Vietnam national football team enthusiastically practices, preparing for friendly match against Afghanistan
(Baonghean.vn) - On the afternoon of May 26, at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center (Hanoi), the Vietnam National Team entered its first training session in preparation for the international friendly match with the Afghanistan National Team on June 1.
This training session did not include the trio of SEA Games 31 Gold Medalists Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Hoang Duc and Nguyen Tien Linh who were allowed to join the training session late. However, the appearance of the brand new assistant duo supporting Coach Park Hang-seo, Nguyen Anh Duc and Cedric Rogers, also created a fresh atmosphere for the entire Vietnam Team.
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| On the afternoon of May 26, the Vietnam National Team practiced at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center (Hanoi). Photo: Hai Hoang |
​Throughout the training session, in the role of fitness assistant (replacing coach Park Sung Gyun, who is on duty with U23 Vietnam at the 2022 AFC U23 Championship), fitness coach Cedric Rogers asked the entire team, including the 3 goalkeepers, to practice the same training plan. Previously, the goalkeepers would normally practice separately with the coach instead of warming up with the whole team.
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| Fitness coach Cedric Rogers. Photo: Hai Hoang |
However, with Mr. Rogers, goalkeepers Van Lam, Tuyen Quang, Tuan Manh also have to run, compete for the ball, hold the ball and pass the ball like any other player on the field. That brings excitement to Van Lam and his teammates. "I am really happy to return to Vietnam and fight side by side with my beloved teammates. It has been 3 months since I played for the Vietnamese national team. In addition, I feel happy to return to Hanoi. This is a place that holds many memories for me," said Van Lam.
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| Goalkeeper Dang Van Lam returns to Vietnam after nearly a year. Photo: Hai Hoang |
Coach Park Hang-seo spent the first training session letting the players relax and find connection with each other. However, at the end of the session, Coach Park Hang-seo called 4 HAGL players, including Van Toan, Cong Phuong, Van Thanh, and Hong Duy, to practice separately.
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| The players relax in the first practice session. Photo: Hai Hoang |
In addition to Dang Van Lam, this was also an emotional training session for Duy Manh when he returned after fully recovering from a shoulder injury from the 2022 World Cup qualifiers in Asia. Also in this training session, midfielder Quang Hai, who has not yet played abroad, still participated. Recently, after saying goodbye to Hanoi FC, the player wearing the number 19 jersey has been training at Can Tho FC to maintain his fitness.
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| Que Ngoc Hai practices very enthusiastically. |
Meanwhile, former striker Nguyen Anh Duc appeared on the field in a new role as assistant to coach Park Hang-seo. Coach Park's favorite student has time to work as a coach so he quickly adapted to the work of the national team.
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| Former striker Nguyen Anh Duc returns to the Vietnam national team as a coach. Photo: Hai Hoang |
In this training session, since most of the players are old players, Coach Park Hang-seo does not need much time to plan the squad and prepare for the playing style. With just a few training sessions, Quang Hai and his teammates can shape their playing style, ready for the match against Afghanistan on June 1.
The Vietnamese team will have 2 days of training at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center before moving to Ho Chi Minh City on May 28 to prepare for a friendly match with the Afghanistan team.