Coach Park announces official 23-member squad for Vietnam U23s

ABO/NDO – Head coach Park Hang-seo has officially made his decision on selecting 23 players for the national U23 team three days ahead of their opener at the 2020 AFC U23 Championship qualification.

Coach Park Hang-seo has officially selected the 23 players for Vietnam's U23 squad to compete at the 2020 AFC U23 Championship qualification. (Photo: Vietnam Football Federation)

On Tuesday night, after the team’s meeting, Park decided to eliminate an additional six players to make the final list of the 23-member squad. Among the outsiders is star striker Nguyen Tien Linh because of a ligament injury.

Tien Linh was named in the squads for both senior and U23 teams under Park in last year’s impressive tournaments, but the Becamex Binh Duong player has suffered from injury since playing at his club earlier this year. Unfortunately, during the preparation for the upcoming campaign at Vietnam U23 team, the 1997 born striker could not recover in time.

Other players who are out without successfully competing for a slot in the squad include Truong Tien Anh (Viettel), midfielder Phan Thanh Hau (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Luong Hoang Nam (Hai Phong), defender Ngo Tung Quoc (Ho Chi Minh City) and goalkeeper Y Eli Nie (Dak Lak).

In addition, Park also decided to retain key defender Tran Dinh Trong despite that he is recovering from an injury that forced him out of the national senior squad since the AFC Asian Cup earlier this year.

Dinh Trong played in a friendly match against Chinese Taipei that saw his side win 6-1. The team doctors said the defender will be able to recover in time for the two upcoming matches against Indonesia U23s and Thailand U23s on March 24 and March 26, respectively.

The absence of Tien Linh will force Vietnam’s attacking line to depend much on the performance of striker Ha Duc Chinh. Although not at his best, the SHB Da Nang’s player is the most experienced player on the front of Vietnam U23s. Another two promising names are Dinh Thanh Binh (Viettel) and Le Xuan Tu (Hong Linh Ha Tinh).

Vietnam will host Group K at the 2020 AFC U23 Championship qualification, with their first match against Brunei U23s at Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium on March 22, before two additional games against Indonesia U23s on March 24 and Thailand U23s two days later.

The final tournament will be held in Thailand from January 8 to 26 next year.

The 23-member squad of the Vietnam U23 team attending the 2020 AFC U23 Championship qualification:

Goalkeepers (3): Bui Tien Dung (Hanoi), Phan Van Bieu (Da Nang), Nguyen Van Toan (Hai Phong).

Defenders (9): Doan Van Hau, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Tran Dinh Trong (Hanoi), Mac Duc Viet Anh, Do Thanh Thinh (SHB Da Nang), Nguyen Duc Chien (Viettel), Ho Tan Tai (Becamex Binh Duong), Nguyen Van Dat (Hong Linh Ha Tinh), Huynh Tan Sinh (Quang Nam).

Midfielders (7): Nguyen Quang Hai, Truong Van Thai Quy (Hanoi), Tran Thanh Son, Trieu Viet Hung (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Bui Tien Dung (SHB Da Nang), Nguyen Hoang Duc (Viettel), Le Van Xuan (Hong Linh Ha Tinh).