Vietnam team adds 5 players

Yesterday, July 14, Coach Falko Goetz announced the list of 24 Vietnamese players who will gather for the second training session on July 17 to prepare for the match against Qatar in the second qualifying round of the 2014 World Cup. Five new faces were added.

Compared to the 25 players who gathered for the first match against Macau, the list this time has five new names to replace injured players who are not qualified. In the goalkeeper position, coach Goetz only kept goalkeeper Nguyen Manh Dung (Thanh Hoa) and called up veteran goalkeeper The Anh (Navibank Saigon) and Tuan Manh (HAGL - who played for the Vietnam Olympic team in two matches against Saudi Arabia in the 2012 London Olympic qualifiers). Goalkeeper Tan Truong was not on the list due to a relapse of his injury during the Dong Thap Rubber Club's training session to prepare for the match against Hoa Phat Ha Noi in the 21st round of the V-League 2011 recently.

In defense, coach Falko Goetz called defender Van Bien (Hanoi T&T) and center back Chi Cong (B.Binh Duong) to replace Hoang Quang (SHB Da Nang) and Phuoc Tu (Sai ​​Gon Xuan Thanh). Coach Goetz watched Van Bien play live on the field. As for Chi Cong, he watched the video and consulted the national coaching council.

Defender Van Bien - selected by coach Falko Goetz himself - Photo: SH

After recovering from injury, the presence of midfielder Tan Tai helps the Vietnamese team's midfield have more options. Midfielder Thanh Hung (SHB Da Nang) and striker Ngoc Anh are not included in this training session because they did not have many opportunities to show their performance in the preparation for the match against Macau. However, this is not the final list for the match against Qatar because according to coach Falko Goetz, he will call up more players who played well in round 22 of V-League 2011 on July 16.

According to the plan, after regrouping on July 17 at Thanh Long Sports Center (HCMC), the players will practice on the field in the afternoon of the same day. It is expected that the Vietnamese team will have six practice sessions before leaving for Doha on the night of July 20 to prepare for the first leg match against Qatar at Al-Saad Stadium on July 23. After the first leg match, the Vietnamese team will return home and stay at La Thanh Hotel (Hanoi) from July 25 to prepare for the second leg match three days later at My Dinh Stadium.

Returning to Vietnam on the morning of July 14 after a trip to Switzerland to observe the 2-2 friendly draw between Qatar and Neuchatel, coach Falko Goetz said he learned many important lessons to prepare for the two matches with Qatar. According to coach Goetz's assessment: "Qatar has many players over 1.85m tall, so they will cause a lot of difficulties for the Vietnam team in aerial ball disputes. They have a pretty good attack when the striker pair Soria and Yousef both scored in the draw with Neuchatel."

Team list: Goalkeepers (3): Tuan Manh (HAGL), The Anh (Navibank Saigon), Manh Dung (Thanh Hoa). Defenders (8): Viet Cuong (HAGL), Long Giang, Anh Tuan (Navibank Saigon), Dinh Luat (Vicem Hai Phong), Van Bien (Hanoi T&T), Quang Thanh, Chi Cong (B.Binh Duong), Dinh Dong (SLNA). Midfielders (8): Duy Nam, Ngoc Duy (Hanoi T&T), Thanh Luong (Hanoi ACB), Ngoc Thanh (SHB Da Nang), Minh Chau (Vicem Hai Phong), Tan Tai (K.Khanh Hoa), Tai Em (Navibank Saigon), Trong Hoang (SLNA). Forwards (5): Van Quyet, Cong Vinh (Hanoi T&T), Dinh Tung (Thanh Hoa), Viet Thang (V.Ninh Binh), Quang Hai (Navibank Saigon).K.Xuan

According to Tuoi Tre