Coach Troussier eliminated Cong Phuong before Asian Cup 2023

VFF has sent a preliminary list of 50 players for the Vietnamese team to attend the 2023 Asian Cup, however, striker Cong Phuong's name is not on the list.

HLV Troussier loại Công Phượng trước thềm Asian Cup 2023

Coach Troussier did not call up Cong Phuong for the 2023 Asian Cup. (Photo: Do Minh Quan)

On December 12, VFF sent a preliminary list of 50 Vietnamese players to the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to prepare for the 2023 Asian Cup campaign. Striker Cong Phuong was not on this list.

This is the second consecutive training session that Cong Phuong has not been called up by coach Troussier. Previously, the Nghe An striker was called up to the Vietnam national team for a friendly match against Palestine in September.

After that, Cong Phuong was absent from the training session for 3 friendly matches in October and the most recent training session in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia (against the Philippines and Iraq) in November.

It is understandable that Cong Phuong was "ignored" by Coach Troussier because this striker did not play a single minute for Yokohama FC in J-League 1. Not being able to play, Cong Phuong is having problems with his form and ball feeling. If he is called up to the Vietnam national team, he will need a lot of time to adapt to the playing style under Coach Troussier.

Furthermore, in the current team, Coach Troussier has many options for the striker position, including notable names such as Tuan Hai, Van Toan, Tien Linh, Dinh Bac... Most of these players are in good form in the V-League.

Regarding Cong Phuong's future, recently this striker and his wife and children returned to Vietnam to rest. The Nghe An striker recently had a trip to Gia Lai to visit coach Guillaume Graechen (currently coaching at Nutifood Football Academy) and his former teammates.

Cong Phuong's return to Vietnam and Hoang Anh Gia Lai's headquarters has received attention from fans, in the context of the 1995-born player's future being unclear after Yokohama FC was relegated.

However, many sources said that the former striker of the mountain town team will return to Japan to continue playing here until the end of his contract (end of 2025).

Yokohama FC is planning for the new season with the goal of being promoted back to J-League 1. With Yokohama FC relegated to J-League 2 this season, Cong Phuong has many opportunities to play. This is the second time the former Vietnam international has played in J-League 2 after playing for Mito Hollyhock in 2016.

According to plan, after the end of round 8 of V-League 2023-24 (December 28), the Vietnamese team will gather in Hanoi and then move to Qatar from January 5.

At the 2023 Asian Cup, Vietnam is in Group D with Japan, Iraq and Indonesia. The tournament will start from January 12 to February 10, 2024 at 9 stadiums in 5 cities of Qatar. Coach Troussier and his team will play their opening match against Japan on January 14 at Al Thumama Stadium.

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