Vietnam team lineup against Japan: Quang Hai, Van Thanh on the bench

Coach Philippe Troussier surprised the Vietnamese team's starting lineup in the opening match against Japan in Group D of the 2023 Asian Cup at 6:30 p.m. tonight in Qatar when he left Quang Hai and Van Thanh on the bench.

Quang Hai is not in the starting lineup of the Vietnam national team - Photo: HOANG TUNG

Compared to the first two matches in the second qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup, coach Philippe Troussier made three changes to the starting lineup for the first match against Japan in the 2023 Asian Cup. Specifically, goalkeeper Nguyen Filip started when Dang Van Lam was injured and could not be present. Coach Philippe Troussier still kept the same trio of central defenders, including Thanh Binh (right), Viet Anh (middle), and Phan Tuan Tai (left). Duy Manh has just returned from injury and rookie Ngoc Bao was not used from the start.

Starting lineup of Vietnam team - Graphics: AN BINH

However, the pair of full-backs changed in the right wing position. Minh Trong played left-back. The right-back was Pham Xuan Manh instead of Van Thanh. This was the first surprise for Mr. Troussier in the match against Japan. The pair of central midfielders remained unchanged with Thai Son and Tuan Anh. The three strikers were two familiar names: Pham Tuan Hai and Nguyen Dinh Bac. Only the right winger was Hung Dung instead of Van Toan. This was the second surprise that the French coach arranged in this match. Quang Hai was not included in the starting lineup of the Vietnamese team by the French coach. He sat on the bench with 10 other players: Duy Manh, Ho Tan Tai, Truong Tien Anh, Nguyen Van Truong, Vu Van Thanh, Hai Long, Khuat Van Khang, Thanh Long, Ngoc Bao, goalkeeper Dinh Trieu, goalkeeper Nguyen Van Viet. The three players not registered in the list of players for this match were strikers Nguyen Van Toan, Nguyen Van Tung and central defender Giap Tuan Duong. With this fairly new lineup, the Vietnamese team hopes to be able to make a surprise against a very strong opponent, Japan.