Other goalkeepers have a chance
The Vietnam team will face Myanmar (March 20, friendly) and Laos (March 25, 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers).
Goalkeeper Dinh Trieu and Van Khang at AFF Cup 2024
Photo: Ngoc Linh
Goalkeeper Dinh Trieu is now 34 years old, not too young anymore. Therefore, coach Kim Sang-sik can start thinking about finding a backup goalkeeper for the Vietnam national team in the near future.
Among the goalkeepers currently playing in the V-League, many have the potential to play for the national team in the near future. The most notable of these is Vietnamese-American goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang (HCMC Club). If Patrik Le Giang succeeds in naturalizing as a Vietnamese citizen, he will be an ideal candidate to play for the national team. Another option is goalkeeper Nguyen Van Viet (SLNA). This goalkeeper has been called up to the Vietnam national team in previous training sessions, but has not had the opportunity to play.
In terms of professional ability, Nguyen Van Viet is probably not inferior to goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu. Van Viet's advantage is that he is still quite young, only 23 years old, and has a very long-term value, if Van Viet can stabilize his performance in the coming time.
Not only that, in 2025, in addition to the national team performing international duties in the 3rd qualifying round of the 2027 Asian Cup, the Vietnam U.22 team also has international duties in the qualifying round of the 2026 U.23 Asian Cup and the 33rd SEA Games. Therefore, targeting young goalkeepers, so that they can compete, gain more experience and courage, is also something that coach Kim Sang-sik will carefully calculate.
'2 in 1' goalkeepers can play for both the national team and the Vietnam U.22 team
Goalkeepers in the 22-year-old age group, eligible to participate in the 33rd SEA Games in 2025, include Tran Trung Kien (HAGL, 22 years old), Cao Van Binh (SLNA, 20 years old). They are the ones who are likely to be called up to the national team by coach Kim Sang-sik for friendly matches. Once they are called up to the national team, these goalkeepers will be trained together with senior goalkeepers, they will be more mature and progress faster.
Young goalkeeper Trung Kien of HAGL
Photo: Ngoc Linh
As for goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien, who knows, the goalkeeper currently playing for HAGL Club will have his first chance to play for the national team this year, also with the purpose of preparing personnel for the future by Coach Kim Sang-sik. If goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien gets to play for the national team, in some suitable matches in 2025 (for example, friendly matches, or matches against weak opponents like Laos and Nepal), this player will reach a completely different level, before the 33rd SEA Games in 2025.
Preparing for two teams at the same time, including the national team and the national U.22 team, to participate in different tournaments, coach Kim Sang-sik will calculate the personnel in the most convenient way, both developing the U.22 youth team and not weakening the national team in certain matches. Goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien is one of the "2 in 1" faces, qualified to participate in both teams this year.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/thu-mon-xuat-sac-nhat-aff-cup-co-nguy-co-bi-chiem-suat-o-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-185250201122113476.htm
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