This comes as new head coach Philippe Troussier gathered 22 players on March 2 for the senior team’s first gathering of the year.

The latest squad shows the Frenchman has put his belief in veterans and experienced players such as goalkeepers Dang Van Lam, Nguyen Manh, and Van Toan; defenders Que Ngoc Hai, Do Duy Manh, and Doan Van Hau; midfielders Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Hoang Duc, and Nguyen Tuan Anh; along with strikers Nguyen Van Quyet, Pham Tuan Hai, and Nguyen Tien Linh.

The list has surprised some local fans as key players, including Nguyen Quang Hai, Nguyen Cong Phuong, and Nguyen Van Toan, are absent due to playing abroad.

The team will train at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Centre in Hanoi from March 8 to March 12.

Moving forward, the senior team will play a friendly match against the U20 team as they prepare for upcoming international tournaments this year.

The first task of the new coach will be to lead the U23 Vietnam at the upcoming 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32) which is scheduled to take place in Cambodia this May.

Furthermore, the national team will compete at the 18th Asian Games (ASIAD) which will be held in Hangzhou of China in September and at the 2023 Asian Cup which will be held in Doha (Qatar) in January, 2024.

Source: VOV