According to the plan, U23 Vietnam will finalize the list of 23 official players to participate in the tournament held in Saudi Arabia. Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team are expected to start matches against U23 Jordan at 6:30 PM (Vietnam time) on January 6. Stablening the force is the top priority in this final sprint.
However, during training, goalkeeper Nguyen Tan had a problem with his shoulder and is being closely monitored by the medical team. The injury appeared close to the start of the tournament, forcing the coaching staff to consider the possibility of a replacement, in order to ensure professional safety as well as the depth of the squad.
Nguyen Tan is currently the third goalkeeper in the list, behind Tran Trung Kien and Cao Van Binh - two faces who have shown stable form in the youth teams in recent times.
Therefore, if forced to part ways with Nguyen Tan, the professional impact on the position of guarding the goal can be controlled at the lowest level.
In case it is necessary to supplement personnel from within the country, the U23 Vietnam coaching staff and the professional department of the Vietnam Football Federation are considering a number of options.
Notably, goalkeeper Pham Dinh Hai (Hanoi club), born in 2006, is 1m85 tall. This player used to wear the jerseys of U16, U17, U19 and U20 Vietnam teams, and also had time to gather with U22 Vietnam under coach Kim Sang-sik.
In addition, a long-term option is also considered: young goalkeeper Hoa Xuan Tin, born in 2008. Although only 17 years old, Xuan Tin possesses a good physique with a height of 1m87, stable leg play ability and fast reflexes.
This player was once given the opportunity to start for the Ho Chi Minh City team in the 2024-2025 season and is currently the number one choice in the goal of the Vietnam U17 team.
Whether to change personnel or not will depend on the final medical examination results of Nguyen Tan in the coming days. The U23 Vietnam coaching staff is said to make cautious decisions, prioritizing stability and safety for the force before entering the important continental tournament.
