SLNA contributed 4 players.

(Baonghean.vn)Following the dress rehearsal at the VFF Cup 2011, coach Falko Goezt announced the list of 23 Vietnamese U23 players participating in the 26th SEA Games. SLNA contributed four players: defender Au Van Hoan, and midfielders Ngo Hoang Thinh, Hoang Van Binh, and Nguyen Trong Hoang.

The three players who were dropped are: Nguyen Tan Cong, Pham Van Nam, and Tran Tan Dat. Coach Falko Goezt said this was a difficult decision for him because all his players had worked very hard throughout the past period. Yesterday (October 27), members of the Vietnam U23 team...MaleThe U23 Vietnam team had their first training session at the Military Region 7 Stadium after regrouping. In Ho Chi Minh City, the U23 Vietnam team...MaleThey will train for 4 days before departing.IndonesiaCoach Falko Goezt stated that before departure (October 31st), the U23 team will finalize the list of 21 players (including 3 goalkeepers). The question that fans are interested in is who will be among the next two players to be dropped?

With the three existing goalkeepers remaining and after the recent elimination of three defenders, the U23 team's defense is now considered stable. Therefore, the next two positions to be eliminated will be in midfield and forward. Given Coach Goezt's criterion of two players per position, experts believe that midfielders Mạnh Dũng (Ninh Bình), Thanh Trung (Hoà Phát HN), and Thái Dương (HAGL) will struggle to compete with Thành Lương (Hà Nội ACB), Hoàng Thiên (HAGL), and the SLNA trio of Trọng Hoàng, Văn Bình, and Hoàng Thịnh.

In the forward line, Van Quyet (Hanoi T&T) and Dinh Tung (Thanh Hoa) are practically guaranteed spots, while the remaining two positions, held by Van Thang (Thanh Hoa) and Tuan Anh (Dong Nai), are 50/50.

With that assessment, the four "musketeers" of SLNA are almost certain to be in the Vietnam U23 squad for the upcoming SEA Games 26. Although they don't have ideal physiques, the SLNA players are agile and skillful, with an aggressive and technical playing style, especially Trong Hoang, who has shown leadership qualities for the Vietnam U23 team. That's also why coach Falko Goetz places his trust in these players from Nghe An province for the "gold medal" quest at the upcoming SEA Games.

Duc Dung