Head coach unveils roster for World Cup qualifier against Malaysia

Head coach Park Hang-seo (second from left) at a press conference before the match between Vietnam and Malaysia

The qualifier will take place at the My Dinh National Stadium in Hanoi on October 10, starting from 8:00 pm.

Earlier, the Korean coach had chosen 25 players for the two games in the same month, against Malaysia and Indonesia on October 15.

Two players who did not make into the list for the first match are defenders Pham Xuan Manh of Song Lam Nghe An and Tran Van Kien of Hanoi FC.

Dang Van Lam of Muangthong United, Nguyen Tuan Manh of Khanh Hoa and Pham Van Cuong of Quang Nam FC will serve as the team’s goalkeepers.

Meanwhile, seven defenders comprise of Do Duy Manh and Nguyen Thanh Chung of Hanoi FC, Que Ngoc Hai and Bui Tien Dung of Viettel, Nguyen Huu Tuan of Ho Chi Minh City FC, and Doan Van Hau of Heerenveen of the Netherlands.

There are eight midfielders in the team, with three of Hanoi FC (Pham Duc Huy, Do Hung Dung and Nguyen Quang Hai), three of Hoang Anh Gia Lai (Vu Van Thanh, Nguyen Phong Hong Duy and Nguyen Tuan Anh), along with Nguyen Huy Hung of Quang Nam FC and Nguyen Trong Hoang of Viettel.

The team’s forwards will be Nguyen Anh Duc and Nguyen Tien Linh of Becamex Binh Duong, Nguyen Van Toan of Hoang Anh Gia Lai, Nguyen Trong Hung of Thanh Hoa FC and Nguyen Cong Phuong of Belgian team Sint-Trudense VV.

Earlier, Vietnam had a goalless match with Thailand in a frenetic match in the opener of World Cup qualifiers’ Group G in Thailand’s Pathum Thani province on September 5.

Vietnam have been drawn in the same group with regional rivals Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia, as well as favourites the United Arab Emirates (UAE).