List of Vietnam team to play Malaysia: Cong Phuong returns, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh joins for the first time

List of Vietnam team to play Malaysia: Cong Phuong returns, Cao Pendant Quang Vinh appears for the first time photo 1

This list continues to maintain the squad that contributed greatly to the AFF Cup 2024 championship campaign. Familiar names such as goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu, the central defender trio Do Duy Manh, Bui Tien Dung, Nguyen Thanh Chung, and full-backs Pham Xuan Manh and Nguyen Van Vi are all present.

The midfield brings together pillars such as Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Nguyen Hai Long, while the attack continues to place expectations on Pham Tuan Hai and Nguyen Tien Linh.

Along with the familiar faces, coach Kim Sang-sik has created conditions for new players to show themselves and recorded some promising returns. Most notably, the first appearance of defender Cao Pendant Quang Vinh, who completed the naturalization procedure in March. Goalkeeper Nguyen Filip also returned after his recent absence due to personal reasons.

Both Quang Vinh and Nguyen Filip are showing great form for the Hanoi Police Club. At the 2024/25 Southeast Asian Club Championship, both played impressively, contributing greatly to helping their team win the runner-up position.

One of the most notable highlights in this list is the return of veteran striker Nguyen Cong Phuong. The player born in 1995 returned to the national team after nearly two years of absence, since his last appearance in a friendly match against Palestine in September 2023.

In the Truong Tuoi Binh Phuoc Club jersey in the 2024/25 National First Division, Cong Phuong is playing brilliantly with 7 goals - leading the tournament's scoring list, thereby proving a strong revival and deserving of the opportunity to return.

In addition to the notable additions, coach Kim Sang-sik also faced many difficulties in terms of personnel when many key players had to be absent due to injuries. The most regrettable cases were strikers Nguyen Xuan Son, Bui Vi Hao, midfielder Doan Ngoc Tan and defender Ho Tan Tai.

Striker Nguyen Van Toan continues to miss the national team due to a relapse of his injury while playing for Nam Dinh Steel Club. Most recently, defender Vu Van Thanh had physical problems after the second leg of the final of the Southeast Asian Club Championship, forcing him to withdraw at the last minute.

According to the plan, the Vietnamese team will gather again in Hanoi from May 29, with all 23 players, including players from the Hanoi Police Club, the team scheduled to make up for round 20 of the V-League on June 3.

Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team will travel to Malaysia on June 6, with three more days of training to get used to the climate and field conditions before entering the important match against host Malaysia.

The match between Malaysia and Vietnam will take place on June 10 at Bukit Jalil Stadium. This confrontation is considered to be pivotal in the race for the top spot in Group F, thereby taking the right to decide on the journey to conquer a ticket to the 2027 Asian Cup.