National squad announce final 23-man list for King’s Cup 2019

It is notable that the list features the return of talented midfielder Tuan Anh and winger Van Thanh from injuries, as well as veteran striker Anh Duc.

In preparation for the Thai international friendly tournament, Park and his assistants have toured all over the country, even foreign countries, scouting players to choose the best ones for the team, and finally the Korean strategist has selected 23 most outstanding faces of Vietnamese football at the present.

It is crucial to see that most of the 23 players are familiar ones, who have joined the national senior team in multiple tournaments over the last year. However, there are still a few surprises.

Goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung was not summoned as the Hanoi FC keeper often sat on the bench because of injury and has just returned for a few matches.

With excellent performance in V.League 1, goalkeeper Nguyen Manh of Song Lam Nghe An and Van Toan of Hai Phong FC were summoned and they will compete for starting position with Dang Van Lam of Thailand’s Muangthong United.

In midfield, Hoang Anh Gia Lai's duo, Nguyen Tuan Anh and Vu Van Thanh, were called up. Both players were seriously injured last year so they were not able to attend some major tournaments with the Olympic team (Asian Games) and the senior team (2018 AFF Suzuki Cup, 2019Asian Cup).

In the attacking line, Anh Duc has suddenly returned. The Becamex Binh Duong striker had said goodbye to the national team after AFF Cup 2018 campaign, but it seems that the crisis in the lack of good player for the highest position in the attacking line has caused Duc to change his mind. He will receive support from young striker Ha Duc Chinh, who is still trusted by coach Park despite not being in good form at SHB Da Nang.

With the newly announced list, Park did not call any overseas Vietnamese players to the national team this time. The Korean strategist scouted a few players in Europe, as well as several foreign players with Vietnamese origin, in the top flight V.League1, but in the end he did not choose any of them.

The Golden Dragons will start their campaign against hosts Thailand on June 5, while the other two teams in the tournament – India and Curacao – will face off in the other encounter. The two winning teams will progress to the final, while the two others will participate in the third-place playoff match, all of which will take place on June 8.

The Vietnam squad for King’s Cup 2019:

Goalkeepers: Tran Nguyen Manh (SLNA), Dang Van Lam (Muangthong United), Nguyen Van Toan (Hai Phong).

Defenders: Doan Van Hau (Hanoi FC), Bui Tien Dung (Viettel), Que Ngoc Hai (Viettel), Tran Dinh Trong (Hanoi FC), Do Duy Manh (Hanoi FC), Huynh Tan Sinh (Quang Nam), Nguyen Phong Hong Duy (HAGL), Vu Van Thanh (HAGL).

Midfielders: Pham Duc Huy (Hanoi FC), Luong Xuan Truong (Buriram United), Do Hung Dung (Hanoi FC), Pham Tuan Anh (HAGL), Nguyen Trong Hoang (Viettel), Tran Van Kien (Hanoi FC), Tran Minh Vuong (HAGL).

Strikers: Nguyen Van Toan (HAGL), Nguyen Cong Phuong (Incheon United), Nguyen Quang Hai (Hanoi FC), Nguyen Anh Duc (B.Binh Duong), Ha Duc Chinh (SHB Da Nang)