Why is Cong Phuong not on the list of 31 players summoned?
Striker Cong Phuong was not on the list of 31 players summoned by coach Park for the training session in early August.
Coach Park Hang-seo has just presented the VFF with a list of players to be called up.Vietnam teampreparing for the third qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup with 31 players. Due to the highly competitive nature of the upcoming tournament, the Korean coach continues to give priority to players with extensive international experience and who have affirmed their position in the national team such as goalkeeper Bui Tan Truong, defender Que Ngoc Hai, Bui Tien Dung, Do Duy Manh, versatile player Nguyen Trong Hoang, midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai, Luong Xuan Truong, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Phan Van Duc, Nguyen Hoang Duc, striker Nguyen Van Toan, Nguyen Tien Linh...
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| Cong Phuong took his pregnant wife out to eat with Tien Linh in Pleiku at the end of April. Photo: TL. |
The most questioned absence is the case ofCong Phuong.The HAGL Club striker currently has no injuries and has always been a player highly regarded by coach Park Hang-seo for the past 3 years.
According to the investigation, Cong Phuong asked to join the team late to stay home to take care of his pregnant wife who is about to give birth. After welcoming his first child, the striker from Nghe An may be called up again in the next round.
Goalkeeper Dang Van Lam has not been called back by coach Park because he is playing for Cerezo Osaka in Japan. He can only return to the national team according to FIFA's schedule. Midfielder Do Hung Dung continues to be absent due to not recovering from injury. The Hanoi FC player is in the recovery phase and needs more time before he can return to the field.
Besides the veteran faces, Coach Park also gave opportunities to some promising young players such as defender Le Van Xuan, Nguyen Thanh Binh, midfielder Ly Cong Hoang Anh and new recruits such as defender Truong Van Thiet (Viettel), midfielder Le Tien Anh (Binh Dinh) or striker Pham Tuan Hai (Ha Tinh)...
Because the V-League has not been able to return due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Vietnamese team will gather earlier than originally planned. Accordingly, the team will gather on August 5 in Hanoi. The early gathering will give Coach Park and his team more time to prepare before entering the race in the final qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup. According to the schedule, the Vietnamese team will open with an away match against Saudi Arabia on September 2 and then return home to welcome Australia on September 7.
