Players practice, prepare for friendly match with Uzbekistan; Ho Van Cuong injured

Young defender Ho Van Cuong of the Vietnamese national team had to go to the hospital to get 7 stitches after colliding with a player from the Chinese host team in a friendly match on the evening of October 10.

Đội tuyển Việt Nam: Các cầu thủ tập luyện, chuẩn bị thi đấu giao hữu với Uzbekistan; Hồ Văn Cường chấn thương

Vietnam team (white shirt) in a friendly match with China team. (Source: VFF)

According to VFF, Ho Van Cuong suffered a skin tear above his eye and required 7 stitches. With this injury, Ho Van Cuong is advised to limit heading if he plays in the 2 matches against Uzbekistan and Korea.

In the friendly match between Vietnam and China on the evening of October 10 at Dalian Stadium, Ho Van Cuong was brought onto the field by coach Philippe Troussier in the second half. The defender of Song Lam Nghe An Club played very aggressively, determined to score points with the French strategist.

In the 77th minute, in a strong collision with a Chinese player, Van Cuong was lying on the field, bleeding profusely from his forehead. Doctors entered the field to take care of the Vietnamese defender. Afterwards, coach Philippe Troussier was forced to take Van Cuong off to the hospital to check and treat the laceration.

This morning (October 11), the Vietnamese team had a training session at the hotel gym under the guidance of fitness expert Cedric Roger. The group of players who started the match against China only did recovery and muscle relaxation exercises. The remaining group was given additional muscle strength training.

In the afternoon of the same day, the whole team entered a training session to prepare for the friendly match with Uzbekistan (taking place on October 13). This is a closed match and does not count towards FIFA coefficient points.

After this match, coach Philippe Troussier and his team will fly to Korea to play a friendly match with the Korean team. This is the most anticipated match of the FIFA Days in October for the Vietnamese team.

In the match against Korea, striker Nguyen Tien Linh will not be able to play because according to FIFA rules, a player who receives a red card in an official friendly match during FIFA Days will also be banned from playing in the next match.

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