Ly Duc - a piece for the future
Center back Pham Ly Duc is the newest and most surprising name in the Vietnam national team training session in March. Ly Duc has never played for the U.22 Vietnam team and has only played in the first season of the V-League. However, instead of joining the U.22 team, he was given special permission to join the national team for training.
At 22, Ly Duc is the future of the Vietnamese national team's defense. He can even become the present, if he performs well and competes for a position.
Center back Pham Ly Duc
Since taking charge of the Vietnamese team in June 2024, coach Kim Sang-sik has undergone two defense reforms. The first reform took place in his debut match (against the Philippines in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers), when Mr. Kim used midfielder Nguyen Duc Chien in the role of "sweeping" center back, playing at the center of a three-man defense.
The Korean coach's goal is to increase control in defense, helping the Vietnamese team to develop the ball coherently from the back.
The plan failed, as the Vietnamese team was not ready to control and pass the ball sequentially from the bottom up. "The players were not comfortable and somewhat hesitant with this way of playing," a member of the coaching staff shared.
After that, coach Kim Sang-sik promoted Nguyen Thanh Chung, Do Duy Manh, Bui Tien Dung and Pham Xuan Manh, all of whom were veterans who had played in many youth tournaments and were associated with the successful years (2018 - 2022) of Vietnamese football.
The Vietnamese team won the 2024 AFF Cup thanks to the defenders trained by coach Park Hang-seo. However, when this group of players has reached or is about to reach 30, the need to add a central defender becomes more urgent.
Of the two central defenders who are at their best, Bui Hoang Viet Anh is still struggling with the after-effects of his injury, while Nguyen Thanh Binh seems to be constrained, so he has not been able to show much in the role of left central defender.
Can Ly Duc (left) show himself?
Therefore, Ly Duc was called up. Coach Kim Sang-sik affirmed that performance (at the time of the call-up) was one of the top criteria he prioritized when choosing players. Compared to his seniors, Ly Duc was like a blank sheet of paper. He was only 22 years old, with only 16 V-League matches this season, and the 2024 National U.21 Championship with U.21 HAGL.
However, coach Kim Sang-sik only cares about the number of 16 V-League matches. Ly Duc has played all 16 matches since the beginning of the tournament, without resting a single minute. That is a statistic that many seniors find difficult to achieve. Why was Ly Duc able to play all 16 matches? First of all, the central defender born in 2003 is very strong and durable, showing almost no signs of exhaustion despite having to play in the HAGL team that focuses on defense. At the same time, he is so important that if coach Le Quang Trai takes him off the field, it will be difficult to find someone to replace him.
It's not easy for a 22-year-old central defender who is playing in the V-League for the first time to do that.
Compete
Ly Duc has a nice body (1.82 m tall), with good jumping power and body thickness to serve the dispute. He is the type of player who is tough, ready to "fight" with foreign players, not afraid of collision. His aggressiveness and enthusiasm help Ly Duc stand out compared to other central defenders of the same age.
With 2 goals since the beginning of the tournament, most recently a volley against Thanh Hoa Club in round 16, the 23-year-old center back can become a "lucky goalscorer" defensive player, like what Bui Hoang Viet Anh or Nguyen Thanh Chung have shown.
Ly Duc has scored 2 goals this season.
Although there are still many limitations, such as the ability to read situations and make judgments when facing more cunning opponents, lack of experience or "coolness", these are qualities that need time and experience to hone. Importantly, Ly Duc has desire and fighting spirit.
Having played as a central defender and defensive midfielder, Mr. Kim really likes the "warrior" type of player, not afraid to throw himself into the game. Ly Duc is a rough diamond, if polished properly, can completely improve and become a promising piece.
After central defender Viet Anh withdrew, the Vietnamese team only has Duy Manh, Thanh Chung, Thanh Binh, Tien Dung and Ly Duc for the central defender position. Facing two weaker opponents, Cambodia (friendly match, March 19) and Laos (Asian Cup 2027 qualifier, March 25), when the defense is not under much pressure, Ly Duc may be given a chance.
The right time and place have come. And the right people, the young guard of HAGL is ready to conquer.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ly-duc-mang-den-chieu-cao-va-suc-manh-cho-hang-thu-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-185250314115805112.htm
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