Before leaving for Laos to prepare for the opening match of the 2024 AFF Cup, coach Kim Sang-sik has conducted a cleanup of his squad.
Accordingly, 7 players had to say goodbye to the Vietnamese team: goalkeeper Dang Van Lam, midfielder Phan Van Duc, Tran Bao Toan, Nguyen Thai Son, Nguyen Van Truong, strikers Nguyen Dinh Bac and Nguyen Quoc Viet.
Notably, 5/7 eliminated players are young players. The Korean coach only kept 3 young players in the squad: goalkeeper Trung Kien, defender Khuat Van Khang and striker Bui Vi Hao.
Compared to the time of his predecessor Troussier, coach Kim Sang-sik puts more faith in the pillars with experience in V.League as well as international tournaments. Therefore, the opportunity for young players to play in the AFF Cup 2024 is not high.
In the goalkeeper position, Trung Kien will find it difficult to compete with his two seniors Nguyen Filip and Nguyen Dinh Trieu. It cannot be denied that the goalkeeper of Hoang Anh Gia Lai is in good form in V.League 2024-2025, but he does not have much experience playing abroad and facing good strikers of the opponent.
Not to mention, if Van Lam did not have a calf injury, Trung Kien's chance to participate in the AFF Cup would be very difficult. In fact, from the beginning, coach Kim Sang-sik's purpose in calling him up was to create an opportunity for him to compete and learn from his seniors to prepare for future youth tournaments.
Similar to Trung Kien, Khuat Van Khang will have difficulty competing for a starting position in the Vietnam national team. If he is assigned to play in his favorite left-back position, the player born in 2003 will need to make much more effort when next to him are Vu Van Thanh and Nguyen Van Vi - two factors that receive great trust with good physical strength, stable performance and great fighting spirit.
In case he is promoted to the left forward position, Khuat Van Khang will continue to compete with his senior Pham Tuan Hai. The Hanoi FC striker has just returned from injury and is gradually regaining his playing form.
In fact, Van Khang was once tested in this role, he revealed his physical weakness and lacked smooth coordination with his teammates on the field.
For Bui Vi Hao, the challenge for this player is much bigger, when he has to compete for the striker position with Van Toan, Tien Linh and Xuan Son. If he is assigned to play as an attacking midfielder, he has to overcome two "mountains": Quang Hai and Hoang Duc.
The chance for young players to start at the AFF Cup 2024 is not high, but coach Kim Sang-sik will consider using them at certain times.
The Korean coach understands the value of each individual, when Van Khang is very dangerous in free kicks, long shots or Vi Hao is sharp, handling situations well when coming on as a substitute...
