VietNamNet Bridge – Coach Nguyen Huu Thang of Viet Nam’s national team selected 24 players yesterday (May 18) for the upcoming friendly match with Syria on May 31 and a four-sided tournament in Myanmar June 3-6.

Made the list: Striker Nguyen Cong Phuong (left) will have a chance to compete with veteran Le Cong Vinh in upcoming tournaments. Photo vcmedia.vn

Among players named on the list, Thang convened three players of Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) who are playing for foreign teams, namely midfielders Nguyen Tuan Anh (Japan’s Yokohama FC) and Luong Xuan Truong (South Korea’s Incheon United FC), as well as striker Nguyen Cong Phuong (Mito Holly Hock FC of Japan).

According to Tran Quoc Tuan, vice chairman of the Viet Nam Football Federation, all clubs of the three aforementioned players have agreed to let them return to Viet Nam to wear the national jersey for these events.

Although HAGL ranked 11th out of 14 teams in the national premier league, the team contributed two more players to the list with Vu Van Thanh and Nguyen Van Toan.

Thang also called upon veterans who are familiar to Vietnamese fans, including goalies Tran Nguyen Manh of Song Lam Nghe An and Phi Minh Long of Ha Noi T&T; midfielder Dinh Tien Thanh of Can Tho; defenders Que Ngoc Hai of Song Lam Nghe An and Bui Tien Dung of Viettel; and striker Le Cong Vinh of Binh Duong.

Notably, Thang called upon overseas Vietnamese goalkeeper Dang Van Lam of Hai Phong to replace Bui Tuan Truong.

However, naturalised footballers such as Ha Noi T&T’s Hoang Vu Samson and Hai Phong’s Le Van Phu weren’t named on Thang’s list.

“There are many good players in the world, but they aren’t called to the national team because, apart from skills, they need to match the team’s way of playing,” Thang said. “With Viet Nam’s team, I am temporarily satisfied with the present footballers. Maybe we will call naturalised footballers in the near future.”

Viet Nam will play Hong Kong in the first match of a four-sided tournament in Myanmar on June 3.

In another match, the hosts will face Singapore. Two winners will advance to the final, while those who lose will play in the third-place play-offs two days later. The champions will walk away with US$20,000.

The tournaments will help Viet Nam prepare for the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Cup in November, with Myanmar and the Philippines as co-hosts. 

VNS