Why is HAGL not sure of a starting position in U.22 Vietnam for a special reason? Here's the reason...

Example from seniors

The training session in March was the second time goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien was called up to the Vietnam national team. The first time he was called up was at the AFF Cup 2024. However, after both calls, the goalkeeper of HAGL Club has never worn the national team jersey. He has not played a single minute.

Center back Ly Duc (second from left) needs to help HAGL Club play more stably in the domestic league.

Photo: KHA HOA

Center back Pham Ly Duc has not played a single minute in the matches of the Vietnamese team. The HAGL player was on the bench in both matches of the team against Cambodia on March 19 and against Laos on March 25.

Actually, this is not a surprise to domestic experts. Pham Ly Duc and Tran Trung Kien have great potential, but compared to players in the same position, the two HAGL players still have a gap in skill level. Compared to central defenders Duy Manh, Thanh Chung, Bui Tien Dung, and even central defender Nguyen Thanh Binh, Pham Ly Duc is still not as good in many aspects.

The same can be said about goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien compared to the current number 1 goalkeeper of the Vietnamese team, Nguyen Dinh Trieu. Moreover, the defense is where every coach in the world needs stability, so coach Kim Sang-sik did not dare to risk experimenting too much in this area. In both matches against Laos and Cambodia, the Korean coach always fixed the starting lineup in the defense, including goalkeeper Dinh Trieu and the trio of central defenders Thanh Chung, Tien Dung and Duy Manh.

Therefore, the young players of HAGL need to make more efforts. They are only 22 years old, their journey ahead is very long. Patience is necessary for players of this age. Do not forget that Tran Trung Kien's senior goalkeeper, Nguyen Dinh Trieu, had to go through many ups and downs in his career to get an official position in the goal of the Vietnam national team. When Dinh Trieu started wearing the national team jersey, he was over 30 years old.

As for Pham Ly Duc, the HAGL player can look to his senior Nguyen Thanh Chung as an example. It took many international tournaments and many years of playing for the Vietnamese national team for Thanh Chung to gain the official position that he currently holds.

Not sure of official position in Vietnam U.22 team

All of this comes from the relentless efforts of the above players. If Dinh Trieu or Thanh Chung had been discouraged early on because they were not appreciated in the national team jersey, in each previous training session, they certainly would not have achieved today.

Goalkeeper Trung Kien needs to make more efforts when returning to domestic tournaments.

Photo: VUONG ANH

The job of Ly Duc and Trung Kien now is to continue to strive for the club's colors, as long as they show excellence compared to players in the same position, they will automatically be noticed. First, the above players need to help their club HAGL play better and more stably in the domestic tournament.

The fact that players Ly Duc and Trung Kien play well in domestic tournaments for their clubs not only creates opportunities for themselves each time they are called up to the national team later, but also helps them compete for a position in the U.22 Vietnam team.

At present, there are some really promising faces in the 22-year-old age group, ready to compete for positions with the young players of HAGL. They are goalkeeper Cao Van Binh (SLNA), central defenders Le Van Ha (Hanoi FC) and Nguyen Hieu Minh (PVF-CAND). All of them played excellently at the U.22 international quadrennial tournament in China in recent days, being a significant rival to Tran Trung Kien and Pham Ly Duc for the official position in the U.22 Vietnam team, aiming for the 33rd SEA Games in 2025.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sao-hagl-chua-chac-suat-da-chinh-o-u22-viet-nam-vi-ly-do-dac-biet-la-day-185250329110447579.htm