The Vietnam team has finished a 10-day training trip in South Korea. This is also the final preparation stage for the AFF Cup (new name is ASEAN Cup) 2024.
Instead of playing official friendly matches during FIFA Days in November, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team played practice matches with 3 clubs in the land of kimchi.
Accordingly, the Vietnamese team brought back positive results when they successively won Ulsan Citizen (K.League 3) and Daegu FC (K.League 1) with the same score of 2-0, before defeating Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (K.League 1) with the score of 3-1.
The players who scored in the matches of the Vietnamese team were Nguyen Quang Hai (2 goals), Nguyen Tien Linh, Nguyen Hai Long, Pham Tuan Hai, Do Duy Manh, Dinh Thanh Binh.
Through these practice matches, coach Kim Sang-sik and his colleagues had objective assessments of the players' abilities as well as the suitability and harmony in their playing style, before selecting the main squad for the AFF Cup 2024.
The number 1 goalkeeper of the Vietnam national team is most likely Nguyen Filip. Compared to Van Lam, the goalkeeper of the Hanoi Police is maintaining a stable performance and playing better with his feet. Not to mention, playing in the V.League, facing quality foreign strikers is an important factor in helping Filip improve his skills.
In some matches against "easy" opponents like Laos or Myanmar, Dang Van Lam may be given a chance.
Meanwhile, the trio of central defenders providing stability at the moment are Nguyen Thanh Chung (left), Bui Hoang Viet Anh (middle) and Do Duy Manh (right). All three players have a lot of international experience and have performed well for their home teams in recent times.
Not to mention, Viet Anh, Duy Manh and Thanh Chung can all support the attack and take set-pieces (if needed). Coach Kim Sang-sik can also consider Nguyen Thanh Binh, but it is difficult for this player to take on important tasks.
On the left flank, Pham Xuan Manh is not out of the question. If he is called up after playing in the AFC Champions League Two, Van Vi (Nam Dinh) is also a possible choice for the left-back position.
On the other wing, Vu Van Thanh can play well on the right wing. Compared to his teammates, this player has good physical strength and competition, supporting defense and attack.
It is predicted that the midfield of the Vietnamese team will have the appearance of rookie Doan Ngoc Tan (center midfielder) - who has performed quite well in recent friendly matches. Besides that, there will be the central midfielder position of Nguyen Quang Hai (or Nguyen Hoang Duc) and attacking midfielder Nguyen Hai Long.
In addition, the Vietnamese team's attack line at this time is striker Nguyen Tien Linh and Bui Vi Hao who can play in the attacking midfielder position. Or in case Nguyen Xuan Son is on the field, he can take over for Vi Hao.
