U.23 Vietnam made two urgent substitutions just before leaving for UAE, why was coach Kim absent?

U.23 Vietnam said goodbye to Xuan Tien, Ngoc My was injured, and was replaced by two players Long Vu and Le Phat before leaving for the UAE in the early morning of October 7.

Xuan Bac (12) and Ly Duc (3) in the U.23 Vietnam jersey

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

U.23 Vietnam replaced 2 players

At 10:15 a.m. on October 7, the U.23 Vietnam team with 23 players, along with the coaching staff, medical staff , logistics staff... departed for the UAE to prepare for a special training session in the Middle East.

Previously, interim coach Dinh Hong Vinh had to say goodbye to midfielder Dinh Xuan Tien who suffered from thigh muscle overload and striker Nguyen Ngoc My who suffered from right adductor muscle injury.

Both were forced to stay in the country for further treatment and recovery. After an urgent meeting, the coaching board summoned Le Dinh Long Vu (SLNA Club) and Nguyen Le Phat ( Ninh Binh FC) to replace them.

8 players join the national team, U.23 Vietnam opens opportunities for overseas Vietnamese strikers

U.23 Vietnam before departure to UAE

Photo: VFF

Acting head coach Dinh Hong Vinh said: "U.23 Vietnam is still on track towards the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U.23 Championship.

In the near future, the team will have different training periods to test and improve its squad. For this October training session, head coach Kim Sang-sik discussed technical details.

The U.23 Vietnam team will need to focus on passing ability, keeping a reasonable formation distance and creating space behind the opponent's defense."

Please be reminded that due to being busy leading the Vietnam team to compete in the Asian Cup qualifiers in October, coach Kim Sang-sik will not be with the Vietnam U.23 UAE team this time.

Important opportunity for friction

U.23 Vietnam is actively preparing for SEA Games 33 and the 2026 AFC U.23 Championship.

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

In the UAE, U.23 Vietnam will play two international friendly matches with U.23 Qatar, taking place on October 9 and 13. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh assessed this as a valuable opportunity for the team to be tested and evaluate its strength.

"Meeting high-level opponents like U.23 Qatar is very useful. These two matches will help the coaching staff better assess potential, adaptability and identify more quality players to report to head coach Kim Sang-sik, thereby preparing well for the next training sessions," said Mr. Vinh.

Midfielder Nguyen Van Truong shared: "Recently, the Vietnam U.23 team has been given the opportunity by the VFF to participate in many quality international tournaments and training trips.

Cong Phuong will have more opportunities to mature in the U.23 Vietnam shirt.

Photo: Dong Nguyen Khang

The whole team is making the best preparations for the two important upcoming goals: SEA Games 33 and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship. We will try our best to not disappoint the fans' expectations."

The training trip in the UAE is an important step in the comprehensive preparation plan that VFF has built for U.23 Vietnam, to help the young squad continue to develop, accumulate international experience and aim for new achievements.

Qatar U.23 is one of the strong teams in Asia, having reached the semi-finals in 2016 and won the bronze medal at the 2018 AFC U.23 Championship. This training trip is also part of the football development cooperation program between VFF and Qatar Football Federation signed from 2023 to present.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/u23-viet-nam-thay-gap-2-cau-thu-sat-gio-sang-uae-tai-sao-vang-mat-thay-kim-185251007095616425.htm