VietNamNet Bridge – After consulting with doctors, coach Henrique Calisto permitted striker Le Cong Vinh to withdraw from the Vietnamese football team to care for his knee injury. 

Vinh will return to his club – Hanoi T&T. “Everyone knows Vinh’s significant role in the national squad but I have no choice. It is a great loss for Vietnam without Vinh. But we have to forget him and think of other players,” the coach said.

Halfback Mai Tien Thanh has also left the national team due to injury.

However, the team may have the return of striker Viet Thang, who has recovered from a minor injury in the friendly game against Singapore. In addition, it still have two strikers – Quang Hai and Anh Duc.

Three players from the U23 squad – Anh Duc, Minh Duc and Tan Truong - joined the team on November 22.

Ngoc Dieu, Thanh Luong, Trong Hoang, Dinh Dong, Thanh Trung and Thanh Hung, who have just took part in the Asian Games 2010 practiced with the team this weekend. The national squad went to Vinh city for a friendly match against Song Lam Nghe An club today, November 22.

PV