Coach Park summons 26-member preliminary squad for 2022 World Cup Qualifiers
Vietnam head coach Park Hang-seo has selected 26 players to form a preliminary squad for the upcoming important clash against hosts Thailand in the Group G opener of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup Joint-Qualifiers second round, which start next month.
Reigning Southeast Asia champions Vietnam will kick-start their World Cup qualifying campaign next month with an away match against arch rivals Thailand. (Photo: Vietnam Football Federation)
The summon marks the return of experienced strikers like Van Quyet (Hanoi) and Anh Duc (Becamex Binh Duong), in addition to players with good form in the Vietnam's top-tier V.League 1, including star midfielder Quang Hai – who scored a brace to inspire Hanoi to a 3-2 triumph against Altyn Asyr in their AFC Cup 2019 inter-zone semi-final first leg on Tuesday, goalkeeper Nguyen Manh (Song Lam Nghe An), and young striker Tien Linh (Becamex Binh Duong).
Trong Hoang (Viettel) and Van Hau (Hanoi) are still on the list despite struggling to recover from their injuries. The two wingers play a key role in Park’s lineup and the Korean strategist still fills their names in the squad in the hope that the two key players will recover in time for the important match against arch rivals Thailand on September 5.
Hanoi FC, the reigning V.League champions, and Hoang Anh Gia Lai contribute the most players, with a total of 15 to join the squad, including nine players from the Vietnamese champions, namely Van Quyet, Hung Dung, Quang Hai, Van Hau, Duc Huy, Duy Manh, Van Kien, Van Dai and Thanh Chung.
Hoang Anh Gia Lai, despite not having performed well in the domestic league with the current penultimate rankings on the V.League table, are still contributing six players, including Van Toan, Xuan Truong, Van Thanh, Hong Duy, Tuan Anh and striker Cong Phuong – who are on loan to the Belgian top division club Sint-Truidense V.V.
It is expected that Park and his players will officially gather on August 26, before the coaching board finalises the list of 23 players after their short training period.
By September 1, the 23-member squad will travel to Thailand to prepare for the opening match in Group G, which will take place four days later at the 25,000-seat Thammasat Stadium in Rangsit city, Pathum Thani province, about 40km off Bangkok.
Vietnam’s 26-member preliminary squad for 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers:
Goalkeepers: Dang Van Lam, Tran Nguyen Manh.
Defenders: Nguyen Trong Hoang, Que Ngoc Hai, Bui Tien Dung, Huynh Tan Sinh, Doan Van Hau, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Do Duy Manh, Tran Van Kien, Nguyen Phong Hong Duy, Vu Van Thanh.
Midfielders: Nguyen Quang Hai, Do Hung Dung, Pham Duc Huy, Luong Xuan Truong, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Nguyen Huy Hung.
Strikers: Nguyen Van Quyet, Ngan Van Dai, Nguyen Cong Phuong, Nguyen Van Toan, Ha Minh Tuan, Ha Duc Chinh, Nguyen Tien Linh, Nguyen Anh Duc.
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