The Vietnam team is practicing in Binh Duong to prepare for the two matches against Cambodia and Laos in March. In the first two training sessions yesterday (March 12) and today (March 13), central defender Bui Hoang Viet Anh was not present.
According to Lao Dong, the central defender currently on the payroll of the Hanoi Police Club has a relapse of an old knee injury. Therefore, the coaching staff of the Vietnam team decided to let Viet Anh stop gathering to return for treatment.
Without Viet Anh, coach Kim Sang-sik still has quality central defenders such as Bui Tien Dung, Do Duy Manh, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Nguyen Thanh Binh and especially Pham Ly Duc. The young center-back born in 2003 is playing well and is predicted to be given the opportunity by coach Kim Sang-sik to demonstrate his ability when the Vietnamese team only has to face two "under-ground" opponents such as Cambodia and Laos.
Regarding the current personnel situation of the Vietnam team, on the afternoon of March 13, strikers Nguyen Tien Linh, Dinh Thanh Binh and Nguyen Quang Hai returned to the training ground but still had to practice separately with the doctor. According to Tien Linh, he and Thanh Binh as well as Quang Hai need another 1-2 days to recover to return to practice and compete
Besides Viet Anh being left out, on the afternoon of March 13, there was still an absence of goalkeeper Dinh Trieu.
The Vietnam team will have their opening match in the final qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup against the Laos team on March 25. Before that, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team will have a friendly match with the Cambodian team on March 19. Both matches will take place at Binh Duong Stadium (Binh Duong province).
