At noon on Wednesday, Park announced the names of the 23 players who will compete in Vietnam’s opener against Thailand. Ha Minh Tuan did not make the list. Tuan, a rookie, had been called up to the national team, but the 28-year-old unfortunately suffered a thigh muscle injury and has not yet recovered sufficiently for the big match against the Thais.
The Quang Nam-born player, who scored 7 goals in the V-League in 2019, was expected to unleash winds of change in the offensive line, because Anh Duc is 34 years old and Tien Linh is not at his best. Now that Tuan is out, coach Park must depend on forwards Anh Duc, Tien Linh, Cong Phuong, and Van Toan, alongside Quang Hai, Tuan Anh, and Xuan Truong, who are expected to shine.
Vietnam’s 23-player roster for the 2022 World Cup Qualifying Round:
Goalkeepers: Dang Van Lam (Muang Thong United), Nguyen Tuan Manh (Khanh Hoa Club), and Pham Van Cuong (Quang Nam Club)
Defenders: Do Duy Manh, Doan Van Hau, Tran Van Kien and Nguyen Thanh Chung (Hanoi Club), Vu Van Thanh (HAGL Club), Nguyen Huu Tuan (HCMC Club), Nguyen Trong Hoang, Bui Tien Dung, and Que Ngoc Hai (Viettel)
Midfielders: Pham Duc Huy, Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Quang Hai (Hanoi Club), Nguyen Tuan Anh, Luong Xuan Truong, and Nguyen Phong Hong Duy (HAGL Club), and Nguyen Huy Hung (Quang Nam Club)
Forwards: Nguyen Anh Duc and Nguyen Tien Linh (Binh Duong), Nguyen Van Toan (HAGL Club), and Nguyen Cong Phuong (Sint-Truidense).
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