Midfielder Ngo Hoang Thinh: Joining the national team isn't just about 'filling the list'.

Nearly two years have passed since the match between the Vietnam National Team and the Cambodia National Team (5-0) in the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers, held at My Dinh Stadium on October 10, 2017, before Ngo Hoang Thinh was recalled to the national team. This marks the first time the midfielder, born in 1992, has worked with coach Park Hang-seo.

Many believe that Ngo Hoang Thinh's chances of being included in the official Vietnam national team roster for the matches against Malaysia and Indonesia are slim, as the Vietnam team already possesses a fairly stable midfield lineup.

Ngo Hoang Thinh returns to the Vietnam national team after nearly two years of absence. Photo: bongda

Currently, Coach Park Hang-seo has a host of quality central midfielders at his disposal, all embodying the philosophy the South Korean strategist has built for the Vietnamese national team over the years. Players like Pham Duc Huy, Do Hung Dung, and Nguyen Huy Hung rarely disappoint Coach Park. It's hard to believe that Coach Park Hang-seo would drop one of his "favorite" players to favor a "newcomer" like Ngo Hoang Thinh.

However, that doesn't mean this call-up for the player currently under contract with Ho Chi Minh City FC is just for the sake of appearances. Previously, during the training camp to prepare for the 2019 King's Cup (June), Coach Park Hang-seo summoned Nguyen Tuan Anh, a midfielder who was considered unsuitable for Coach Park's playing style.

Some experts predicted that the chances of the HAGL midfielder being favored by Coach Park were extremely slim. But what happened afterward? The player from Thai Binh has been in the starting lineup for 2 out of the last 3 matches of the Vietnamese National Team (2 matches at the 2019 King's Cup and 1 match in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers). Nguyen Tuan Anh has a chance, why doesn't Ngo Hoang Thinh?

Ngo Hoang Thinh has caught the eye of coach Park Hang-seo (left). Photo: VFF

Commenting on the opportunities for the midfielder from Nghe An, expert Doan Minh Xuong said: “Especially in the case of Ngo Hoang Thinh. Before assembling this squad, Coach Park and Coach Lee went to Malaysia and Indonesia to observe the opponents, so they have a good understanding of their playing style. Therefore, Hoang Thinh's strengths seem to meet the requirements of Coach Park Hang-seo.”

In short, the opportunity is in Thinh's hands. If he demonstrates his abilities in training sessions, especially if he grasps the philosophy of coach Park Hang-seo, the chances of Ngo Hoang Thinh being retained, or even playing in the next two matches for the Vietnamese national team, are quite high.