The absent squad for AFF Cup 2024 is 'no pushover'

Cong Phuong exploded in Binh Phuoc Club's shirt with 4 goals and 2 assists.

Vietnam National Team: Regrettable Absences

On November 18, coach Kim Sang-sik announced that 30 players will join the Vietnam national team to prepare for the AFF Cup 2024 (not including the group of Nam Dinh Club players with international competition schedules) and will join the team after the training team returns from Korea.

This list witnessed the shocking absence of familiar names such as Que Ngoc Hai, Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Phong Hong Duy along with the player who is playing outstandingly in the first division, striker Cong Phuong.

In addition, for various reasons, coach Kim Sang-sik also did not call up many other notable names, enough to create a very competitive Vietnamese team.

Coach Kim Sang-sik is giving many opportunities to young players like Vi Hao.

In goal, we have the duo of Patrik Le Giang and Nguyen Minh Toan, who are two goalkeepers with extremely outstanding performance in the V-League in the past few seasons. They both have good physique, quick reflexes, control the penalty area effectively and are very good in one-on-one situations.

If the Vietnamese-Slovakian player Patrik Le Giang does not have a Vietnamese passport, then Minh Toan, after being called up several times in the first half of coach Philippe Troussier's reign, later lost his place to Dinh Trieu ( Hai Phong Club).

In terms of talent and form, Minh Toan can completely be the main goalkeeper for any V-League team. His minus point, perhaps, comes from his ability to play football with his feet.

In the 3-4-3 formation, we will have a trio of central defenders Que Ngoc Hai, Nguyen Minh Tung and Nguyen Huu Tuan, with Tran Dinh Trong, Hoang Van Khanh, Nguyen Thanh Long and Duong Van Hao as substitutes, all of whom have the physique and experience to have been selected for the national team.

Coach Kim Sang-sik has full authority to decide

Hung Dung will be absent from AFF Cup 2024

On the two wings, Nguyen Phong Hong Duy and Vo Minh Trong will take turns in charge of the left wing, while on the right wing, former captain of Ho Chi Minh City Club Ngo Tung Quoc plays very consistently, and on the reserve is Ho Van Cuong of SLNA.

Like Ngoc Hai in the center of defense, Do Hung Dung is a regrettable name in the center of midfield, next to Vo Hoang Minh Khoa who is playing extremely well for Binh Duong Club. The competition in this area is very high, when Cao Van Trien, Luong Xuan Truong, Nguyen Minh Vuong have both "literature and martial arts" to adjust the playing style to focus on competition, strength or creativity.

On the attack line, fans will definitely vote for a starting position for Cong Phuong (4 goals, 1 assist for Binh Phuoc Club), alongside veteran Van Quyet who is still playing brilliantly and has just set a record of 117 goals in the V-League.

Van Quyet has proactively left the Vietnamese national team.

In the right winger position, we have many rich choices including the Binh Duong Club duo Nguyen Tran Viet Cuong, Nguyen Thanh Nhan or Lam Ti Phong, A Mit (Thanh Hoa Club), Huu Son (Hai Phong Club).

With this squad, if handed over to a truly talented coach, it will create a quality team that is very difficult to beat. Of course, as mentioned, coach Kim Sang-sik did not name them for many reasons such as form, fitness, and suitability in playing style.

Although regretful, the decision of the Korean coach needs to be respected because more than anyone else, he will be the first person responsible for the results of the Vietnamese team at the AFF Cup 2024.

Let's hope that the team will gather at VFF on November 21, after 2 weeks of training in Korea, and will bring a positive image to the Vietnamese team with the goal of at least repeating the achievement of reaching the final of the AFGF Cup like 2 years ago.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/doi-tuyen-viet-nam-doi-hinh-vang-mat-aff-cup-2024-khong-phai-dang-vua-185241119162459601.htm