Which goalkeeper will Kim Jong-un use against Nepal?

At 32 years old, Van Lam is a highly experienced goalkeeper for the current Vietnamese national team. Meanwhile, the two young goalkeepers Nguyen Van Viet and Tran Trung Kien also show great potential.

Goalkeeper Van Lam (center) actively trains for the match against Nepal - Photo: ANH KHOA

The test for Van Lam

The position of number one in goal for the Vietnamese national team against Nepal in Group F of the final qualifying round for the 2027 Asian Cup in both matches in Ho Chi Minh City on October 9th and 14th is receiving significant attention.

The poor form of Nguyen Filip and Dinh Trieu in recent times is the main reason why both have lost their places in the Vietnamese national team.

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But another reason is that coach Kim Sang Sik wants to use the match against Nepal to reassess Dang Van Lam's abilities after nearly a year of absence. At the same time, he wants to give goalkeepers Trung Kien and Van Viet a chance to prepare for the future.

Van Lam was the number one goalkeeper for the Vietnamese national team under coach Park Hang Seo. However, under coach Kim Sang Sik, Van Lam didn't have many opportunities to showcase his skills. Playing in the less competitive First Division in 2024-2025, and for the very strong Ninh Binh club (20 unbeaten matches in the entire season), meant Van Lam wasn't highly regarded by coach Kim. But Van Lam's good performance in the first six matches of the 2025-2026 V-League season has made coach Kim reconsider his position ahead of the match against Nepal.

Increased competition for the goalkeeper position.

Given his form and class, choosing Van Lam to start in the match against Nepal is entirely justified. It also serves as preparation for the crucial rematch against Malaysia in March 2026. However, Van Lam's footwork is somewhat limited. In the 1-1 draw between The Cong and Viettel at Ninh Binh Stadium in round 6, Van Lam miscontrolled the ball with his foot, leading to a dangerous situation for his team.

In 20 matches in the First Division last season, Van Lam conceded only 3 goals. But in the first 6 matches of this V-League season, he has already conceded 5 goals. In terms of form and statistics, Van Viet is Van Lam's biggest rival. Currently, the 23-year-old goalkeeper has only conceded 2 goals in 5 matches as the starting goalkeeper for his new club, The Cong - Viettel, in the V-League 2025-2026. Not to mention, Van Viet's composure and ball-playing ability are also excellent, helping the Vietnamese national team to counter-attack effectively.

22-year-old goalkeeper Trung Kien has the worst statistics among the three goalkeepers. He conceded 5 goals in 5 matches and his club, Hoang Anh Gia Lai, is second to last in the league table. However, Trung Kien has the best physique (1.91m) and is currently the number one goalkeeper for the Vietnam U23 team. If the priority is to prepare for the SEA Games 33 and the 2026 U23 Asian Championship finals, Trung Kien would be coach Kim Sang Sik's first choice for the match against Nepal.

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Van Lam also admitted that he and his two teammates will face considerable competition to play in the upcoming two matches. "Those who join the Vietnamese national team are the best, so we all have to try our best. Trung Kien, Van Viet, and I will support each other in training and matches. But who gets to play is up to the head coach," Van Lam said.

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NGUYEN KHOI

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/ong-kim-dung-thu-mon-nao-dau-nepal-20251008105205121.htm