Why is SLNA's army absent from the national team?

(Baonghean.vn) - This afternoon (November 5), new head coach Park Hang Seo sent the list of players summoned to the Vietnam National Team to the VFF. There are no Song Lam Nghe An players on this list...

The national team roster for the match against Afghanistan in the 2019 Asian Cup qualifiers, taking place at My Dinh National Stadium on November 14, lacks many key players. Among them, midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang, Tran Dinh Dong (FLC Thanh Hoa), midfielder Tran Phi Son, and central defender Que Ngoc Hai of SLNA are also absent.

In the list of Vietnam National Team announced by Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) and Coach Park Hang Seo, there are some new names such as Dinh Trong, Van Thuan (of Saigon Club) or Van Cuong (Quang Nam Club) and Xuan Cuong (FLC Thanh Hoa).

Looking at the list, expert Nguyen Thanh Vinh said: "I am quite surprised with this national team list. Players like Que Ngoc Hai and Tran Phi Son are completely capable and have the form to play for the team."

Midfielder Tran Phi Son's continued absence from the national team is a pity. Photo: Trung Kien

Perhaps the National Coaching Council has not introduced all the necessary and worthy positions for the team. Besides, Coach Park Hang Seo has just started working in Vietnam so he does not have the best understanding. His assistants have not given much advice to the new head coach of the national team."

Many opinions say that SLNA Club is focusing on the National Cup final against B. Binh Duong on November 9, so the absence of Nghe An players in the match on November 14 at My Dinh National Stadium is understandable.

Coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh analyzed: "It's not exactly like that. If SLNA was busy playing in the National Cup, Coach Park Hang Seo would not have called up player Nguyen Anh Duc of B. Binh Duong. In my opinion, he based it on the recommendation of the National Coaching Council, because in the match against the Cambodian team, the national team list also left many regrets."

Players like Que Ngoc Hai, Tran Phi Son or midfielder Hoang Van Binh have not had a chance with coach Park Hang Seo in the recent V.League rounds. Photo: Hoang Tung

"This can also be seen as a change in the way the team is built. The players who are in good form and deserve to be called up still have many opportunities. The road ahead is still long and coach Park Hang Seo personally needs more time to get used to Vietnamese football. The final results will say it all, it is impossible to predict anything from this list." - Coach Nguyen Thanh Vinh concluded.

Head coach of the national team, Mr. Park Hang Seo, attended many matches in rounds 23 and 24 of the V.League to monitor and analyze. However, in round 23, midfielder Tran Phi Son did not play because he received 3 yellow cards. In the last round, central defender Que Ngoc Hai also did not play for the same reason. That could be one of the reasons why they were absent from this training session.

Today, SLNA Club has gone to Ho Chi Minh City to prepare for the first leg final match against B. Binh Duong in the 2017 National Cup. Striker Nguyen Anh Duc, whose name is on this list, must also wear the B. Binh Duong shirt to play in the National Cup final before he can join the national team.

Trung Kien