Vietnam finalizes 23 players for U23 Asia 2024

Qatar coach Hoang Anh Tuan left out four players when finalizing the list of 23 players for the 2024 AFC U23 Championship finals.

The four players who were not registered include goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien of HAGL, defender Nguyen Thanh Khai (Da Nang), Nguyen Duc Anh (Hanoi FC) and midfielder Ha Van Phuong (Hanoi Police).

Coach Hoang Anh Tuan announced the official list to the players before today's training session, April 15, at 4:00 p.m. Doha time, or 8:00 p.m. Hanoi time. He said the coaching staff discussed very carefully, based on the assessment after the training session and the friendly match with Jordan on April 10, before making the final decision.

Goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien (left) is one of four players who said goodbye to U23 Vietnam. Photo: Thu Khuc

Vietnam's average height, which is already among the shortest in the 2024 U23 Asia team, will continue to decrease after saying goodbye to the team's two tallest players, goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien (1.91 m) and center-back Thanh Khai (1.87 m). Currently, center-back Luong Duy Cuong, at 1.82 m, is the team's tallest player.

Hanoi FC and HAGL are the two teams that contribute the most players, with three players. Seven clubs have two players, including Binh Duong, The Cong, Thanh Hoa, Cong An Ha Noi, SLNA, Da Nang and Binh Phuoc. Three clubs have one player, including Quang Nam, Ha Tinh and PVF-CAND.

The list of players participating in the U23 Asia this time only has five names that participated in the 2022 tournament in Uzbekistan, where Vietnam reached the quarterfinals. They are goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan, defender Luong Duy Cuong, midfielders Khuat Van Khang, Nguyen Van Truong and striker Nguyen Van Tung.

The team has seven players born in 2001, with three born in 2002, nine in 2003, two in 2004, two in 2005. The oldest player is goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan, born on January 7, 2001. The youngest player is defender Nguyen Manh Hung, born on August 8, 2005, while Le Nguyen Hoang was born on February 14, 2005.

Nguyen Manh Hung (right) and Le Nguyen Hoang (middle) are two players born in 2005 of U23 Vietnam. Photo: Thu Khuc

Coach Hoang Anh Tuan said the team has completed preparations and is ready to enter the official matches. "The performance of the players on the final list is quite good," he said.

Tomorrow, April 16, Mr. Tuan will attend a press conference before the opening match of Group D, along with the coaches of Uzbekistan, Kuwait and Malaysia. Afterwards, he and the players will visit the Al-Janoub stadium, because the Asian Football Confederation did not allow them to practice to maintain the grass surface.

Vietnam will play their opening match against Kuwait on April 17, then Malaysia on April 20, then Uzbekistan on April 23. The team's goal is to get past the group stage.

List of Vietnam U23 football team

Goalkeepers (3): Quan Van Chuan (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Van Viet (SLNA), Doan Huy Hoang (Binh Phuoc)

Defenders (7): Luong Duy Cuong (Da Nang), Tran Quang Thinh (HAGL), Le Nguyen Hoang (SLNA), Ho Van Cuong (CAHN), Nguyen Hong Phuc (The Cong), Nguyen Ngoc Thang (Ha Tinh), Nguyen Manh Hung (Binh Phuoc)

Midfielders (7): Vo Hoang Minh Khoa (Binh Duong), Hoang Van Toan (CAHN), Nguyen Duc Viet (HAGL), Nguyen Thai Son (Thanh Hoa), Nguyen Duc Phu (PVF-CAND), Nguyen Van Truong (Hanoi FC), Khuat Van Khang (The Cong)

Forwards (6): Nguyen Quoc Viet (HAGL), Vo Nguyen Hoang (Thanh Hoa), Bui Vi Hao (Binh Duong), Nguyen Van Tung (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Dinh Bac (Quang Nam), Nguyen Minh Quang (Da Nang).

Hieu Luong

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