Even if the AFC decides that the Malaysian team lost the first leg match against Vietnam (to be played in 2025) due to the use of naturalized players in violation of regulations, we still have to prepare well for this match, hoping to win by a sufficient margin to secure a place in the finals, rather than waiting for a favorable ruling from the AFC.
Following the 2026 U23 Asian Cup finals, Vietnam's head coach, Kim Sang-sik, stated that several players from the U23 team could be selected to play for the senior national team in the near future. Among them, notably, are goalkeepers Tran Trung Kien and Cao Van Binh; center-backs Nguyen Hieu Minh and Pham Ly Duc; and the most prominent young star currently – Nguyen Dinh Bac.
With young goalkeepers Tran Trung Kien and Cao Van Binh catching the eye of the South Korean coach, the list of goalkeepers competing for the three "goalkeeper" positions in the Vietnamese national team has become longer than ever. This list could include Dang Van Lam, Nguyen Filip, Tran Trung Kien, Cao Van Binh, Nguyen Van Viet, Nguyen Dinh Trieu, and the Vietnamese-Slovakian goalkeeper Patrik Le Giang, who will obtain Vietnamese citizenship at the end of January 2026.
Looking at the list above, it's clear that those included are either in the twilight of their careers or not yet mature enough to be given the starting goalkeeper position for the national team.
Among them, Patrik Le Giang, Dinh Trieu, Van Lam, and Nguyen Filip are all over thirty. In terms of height, Dinh Trieu, Nguyen Filip, Trung Kien Van Lam, and Patrik Le Giang are all taller than or close to 1.90m; Van Viet and Van Binh are only slightly over 1.80m, making them among the "short" goalkeepers in modern football.
Furthermore, looking at the Vietnamese national team's recent participation in official tournaments, the goalkeeper position has not been very stable, with coach Kim Sang-sik rotating between Van Lam, Nguyen Filip, and Dinh Trieu.
Nguyen Filip and Dinh Trieu have yet to reassure the fans. Although Van Lam gives a better impression, in reality, the Vietnamese-Russian goalkeeper has made quite a few mistakes that have shaken the Vietnamese national team's goal.
Many believe that with the aforementioned list, coach Kim Sang-sik will have more flexibility in choosing a goalkeeper for the Vietnamese national team. However, in reality, the personnel issue may still cause the South Korean coach a headache.
Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/dong-nhung-chua-tinh-732809.html
Comment (0)