Coach Park shortlists 24 players for Australia clash

After a training game Thursday, coach Park Hang-seo shortlisted 24 players. Three young faces were out, along with five other players who couldn’t join the team for different reasons. Key strikers Nguyen Tien Linh and Nguyen Van Toan are still in quarantine after contracting Covid-19. Replacement strikers Tran Phi Son and Ngan Van Dai had visa problems and defender Que Ngoc Hai has been suspended.

This leaves the national men’s football team with just three options for the striker position: Nguyen Cong Phuong, Pham Tuan Hai, and rookie Ho Thanh Minh from the U23 team.

For the defense, center-back Nguyen Huu Tuan is expected to take Ngoc Hai’s place. Tuan gets rewarded for impressive performances in the last V. League season.

Without the service of Nguyen Tuan Anh, who is injured, the midfield will comprise new captain Do Hung Dung, V. League star To Van Vu, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Quang Hai and Tran Minh Vuong.

The team fly Friday to Melbourne, Australia for the match.

This is Vietnam’s first time ever in the final round of World Cup qualifiers. The team are last in group B after six losses.

Vietnam trails Australia by a solitary goal after a first leg loss at home in September last year.

After playing Australia on January 27, the team will return to face China at home on Feb. 1, the first day of the Lunar New Year.