Goalkeeper Dang Van Lam will miss the upcoming World Cup qualifiers in the UAE. (Photo baodansinh.vn) Lamwas identified as a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case, one of histeammates at Japanese club Cerezo Osaka.
CerezoOsaka has three goalkeepers, including Lam, one of whom tested positivefor the coronavirus. Although Lam has tested negative for the virus, he isstill considered a close contact.
Aftercareful consideration, Vietnam’s coaching staff contacted Lam and he agreed tonot travel to the UAE to ensure medical safety for the national team.
Whiledisappointed to miss out, Lam sent his best wishes to his Vietnamese teammatesin their bid to advance to the final qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup.
Forthe past three years, Lam has been the starting goalkeeper for the nationalteam and has been a big part of the country's recent success. He movedto Cerezo Osaka in the J1 League earlier this year.
Lamhad been set to fly from Japan to the UAE to join the Vietnamese team on June 1.
TheVietnamese team still have three other goalies including Bui Tan Truong, NguyenVan Hoang and Nguyen Van Toan. The starting spot is likely to go to Truongthanks to his experience compared to his two young colleagues.
The35-year-old Truong was called up to the national team for the first time in2008 under coach Henrique Calisto to prepare for the AFF Cup in the sameyear. However, at the last minute, he was dropped from the squad and missed thechance to win the Southeast Asian championship for the first time in thehistory of Vietnamese football.
Afew months earlier, Truong and the U23 team won the Merdeka Cup in Malaysia.
In2009, Truong was the No 1 goalkeeper of the U23 team for the 25th SEA Games inLaos. However, he made a mistake in the final against Malaysia and conceded theonly goal of the game, thus losing the gold medal.
In2010, Truong made a serious mistake in the 2-0 loss of the Vietnamese team toMalaysia in the semi-final first leg of the AFF Cup at Bukit Jalil Stadium inKuala Lumpur.
Thesemistakes made Truong lose his spot in the national team.
Itwasn't until he shone at Hanoi FC at the end of last year and early this yearthat the goalkeeper was noticed by Korean coach Park, giving him theopportunity to return to the Vietnamese team./.
VNA
