Coach Park Choong Kyun did not join the Vietnamese team on the first day of gatherings - August 4. Hanoi FC only contributed nine players summoned by coach Park Hang Seo to prepare for the final qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup in Asia.

The Korean head coach of the Hanoi Football Club - Park Choong Kyun.

Park Choong Kyun previously accepted an invitation from coach Park Hang Seo to join the Vietnamese team as an assistant, but he withdrew at the last minute. However, Mr. Park does not have to worry because he has many good assistants, both Korean and Vietnamese, such as Kim Tae Min, Lee Young Jin, fitness coach Park Sung Gyun, Luu Danh Minh, Vu Hong Viet, and Nguyen The Anh.

On the morning of August 4, more than 20 players and a number of assistants of the national football team gathered in Hanoi. The remaining players from Viettel Club also joined the team the next day.

The national team gathered at the Youth Football Training Centre in Hanoi to undergo extensive training ahead of their final fixtures in the Asian region’s qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup.

The team began their training programme under the travel bubble model since August 5, according to the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF).

The members will travel from their accommodation to the training ground and vice versa, and only have contact with support staff approved by the VFF.

Most of the players have been able to join the training in Hanoi as planned while three of Viettel FC will come a day later. Korean coach Park Hang-seo is set to finish his quarantine period on August 11.

All members had tested negative with COVID-19 using RT-PCR method before travelling to Hanoi and they will take the test regularly.

The Korean coach has called up a total of 31 players for training, including three goalkeepers, 14 defenders, nine midfielders, and five forwards. The two most significant absences are goalkeeper Dang Van Lam, who is now playing for Cerezo Osaka FC in Japan, and star striker Cong Phuong who is busy with family affairs.

This is the first time Vietnam have ever played in the third and final round of the World Cup qualification. They will play in Group B along with Japan, Australia, Saudi Arabia, China and Oman. 

Vietnam will begin its campaign with an away match against Saudi Arabia on September 2, followed by a match against Australia at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi five days later.

Huy Phong

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