Is U23 Vietnam being tested before SEA Games 31?

In addition to the 3 players over 23 years old, in reality, there are only 17 names registered here, so those who are allowed to enter the field in this match will have to try their best to "score points" with the coaching staff. The reality is as everyone knows, but who will be chosen is still a "mystery" until the end of the second leg match on April 22.

U23 Vietnam actively practices to prepare for the SEA Games. Photo: Archive

In this match, the fact that only goalkeeper Van Toan played the full 90 minutes (and even though he could have been substituted for Van Chuan, due to a mistake in the rules, only 10 substitutions are allowed) proves that he will be the number 1 goalkeeper of U23 Vietnam in the future. The reserve will definitely be Van Chuan and Xuan Hoang, ifCoach Park Hang-seoneed 3 goalkeepers. The players worth paying attention to are those who played nearly 2/3 of the match time when playing the entire first half and were kept for more than 25 minutes in the second half, including Cong Den, Duc Viet, Xuan Tu, Vi Hao and Tien Long. Are these the "reserve 1" players, more trusted, tested more thoroughly?

However, for example, Tien Long is the newest, least known player, playing in the center-back position, where there are many good, trusted players, so whether he will be trusted here or not is still difficult to confirm? Similarly, the player with the most "characteristic" in the central midfield position is Cong Den, although he played very well in the recent U23 Southeast Asian Championship, he will have to compete with a series of outstanding factors in the midfield, so it is really difficult for Mr. Park Hang-seo to calculate.

U23 Vietnam currently has 32 players for the SEA Games 31 campaign. Photo: Archive

Xuan Tu used to be the main force but recently "marked time" causing the coach not to call him in the first round and now continues to prolong the experiment, proving that the concern for this striker is very big? Vi Hao earned a penalty in this match, and is also on the B team. Binh Duong with his senior Tien Linh is a plus point, but looking at the whole picture, it will be very difficult to be named in the list of strikers, when Van Dat is the one who is more trusted in a long process.

The number of players tested for 45 minutes each half includes Van Toi, Tan Tai, Van Viet, Anh Viet, Bao Toan (half 1) and Van Lam, Quang Nho, Duy Cuong, Van Xuan, Manh Dung (half 2). Here, we can see a smokescreen and maybe a strange experiment by Mr. Park Hang-seo when letting Quang Nho play as a center back and Manh Dung as a striker? And surely everyone knows that no matter when they enter the field, the attacking full-back pair Van Xuan - Van Do will be selected in the first team of U23 Vietnam. Therefore, the 45-minute test with Van Viet - Tan Tai will be considered the first reserve pair of these positions? Van Lam playing in his forte position of central midfielder, exactly the position he was trained and anchored in SLNA for a long time is understandable. It was a good half for this young talent, although it will be difficult to say whether he will be selected as reserve 1 or 2 in the future?

U23 Vietnam practices in a context of severe shortage of people. Photo: VFF

And it is worth mentioning that even though they only entered the field in the last few minutes like Hoang Anh, Xuan Quyet, Thanh Minh... these are players who are almost certain to come here? Because these are the factors that have maintained stability for a long time, do not need to be tested much in the eyes of the coaching board? That said, to see that at this time, except for some irreplaceable pillars, the competition to get into the sights of Mr. Park Hang-seo is still quite fierce, the difference is only a hair's breadth?

Surely we will have to wait until the match on April 22, when Mr. Park Hang-seo "installs" 3 players over 23 years old into the squad, to see who plays best and most synchronously in the framework considered complete in the final practice and is officially called up afterwards? In addition to testing to find a satisfactory framework, Mr. Park Hang-seo actually has to hide his cards, not letting the opponent know clearly about himself, especially in front of his compatriot Shin Tae-yong of the U23 Indonesia team. Even these 2 friendly matches are just a happy greeting, everyone knows, can also guess, research, find solutions... but the story of Mr. U23 Vietnam and his players practicing in secret, practicing the pieces afterwards is a story that no one knows at all?

The competition between the best coaches in the continent in regional football will therefore be exciting and thrilling until the last minute, even though it is only a youth playground and not part of the annual world football competition program?