The official FIFA website, fifa.com, has published an article about U-20 Viet Nam team’s striker Tran Thanh, a promising footballer in the upcoming FIFA U-20 World Cup. 

Young stud: Tran Thanh (left). — Photo fifa.com

The website said that while history may repeat itself, a history-making strike can hardly be replicated. Therefore, a striker will need not only skills and vision but also composure and luck if he is to have his name written in football folklore.

Thanh’s name is already in the history books: he scored the match-winning goal against hosts Bahrain in last year’s AFC U-19 Championship, which sealed his country’s maiden qualification to the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

The goal occurred in the all-important quarter-final stage, with the winners progressing to represent Asia in the global showpiece. Opponents Bahrain pressed hard and came close to breaking the deadlock. Having weathered the hosts’ storm, though, the Vietnamese went ahead in dramatic fashion.

Born to a football-mad father, Thanh was encouraged to play the game at a young age. At 13-years-old, he was recruited by local Hue FC and has since been part of the second-division side’s first team.

Now Thanh has the chance of rubbing shoulders with the world’s best youth talent as the U-20 World Cup draws nearer. France, Honduras and New Zealand are the hurdles which Viet Nam must overcome if they are to replicate their Asian success on the global stage.

Despite the daunting task that lies ahead, Thanh remains upbeat.

"For every tournament in which I participate, I usually set the highest goal for myself. If you want to win the games, you must have the winning mentality. The U-20 World Cup is the biggest tournament for us and I will do my utmost to do our supporters proud." 

Hoang misses Asian Cup because of injury

Midfielder Nguyen Trong Hoang failed to make it to the national team for the 2019 Asian Cup qualification in the last minute because of an injury.

The team left for Tajikistan on March 23 night for a match against Afghanistan on March 28. Hoang, who experienced pain after a friendly match between Viet Nam and Chinese Taipei on Wednesday, was said to have a torn muscle and needs at least two weeks to recover.

“It is sad to miss a chance with the team. I am disappointed and will return home in Nghe An to rest,” he said.

Hoang is the third player to leave the team after goalkeeper Dang Van Lam and striker Le Van Thang also had to pull out because of injuries.

Viet Nam are in Group C. After the match against Afghanistan, they will play Jordan and Cambodia.

VNS