Vietnam players in their first training session after arriving in Japan. (Photo courtesy of Vietnam Football Federation) Centreforward Nguyen Tien Linh, who scored eight goals in this qualifying campaign,surprisingly on par with Robert Lewandowski and two goals ahead of CristianoRonaldo, is out with a nasty muscle tear.
Indefence, Vietnam's in-form defender Nguyen Thanh Chung was booked fortwo successive matches and is suspended.
Risingstar Nguyen Hoang Duc is still out because of COVID-19, and the Vietnamesemidfield now has only four players for the Japan trip: Hung Dung, Quang Hai, TuanAnh and Hoang Anh.
Andif that's not worse enough, the team translator, Le Huy Khoa also testedpositive for COVID-19, and 15 players who came into close contactwith him are currently separated from the team for monitoring.
Outsideof the injuries and absences, Coach Park must deal with another probleminvolving starters who are out of form. Vu Van Thanh, a former hero who scoredthe winning penalty in Changzhou that took Vietnam to the 2018 AFC U23Championship final, is now facing critics from both the public and expertsafter his poor performance on Thursday against Oman.
TheHoang Anh Gia Lai right-back lost possession a staggering twenty times in thatmatch, according to statistics website SofaScore. Pundits have warnedThanh needs to buck up his ideas if he still wants a place in the line-up inthe future.
Butthere are still positive signs that Park and the fans could look forward to onMarch 29. Keeper Dang Van Lam has fully recovered from injury and is currentlyin Japan, ready to join the team. Lam is one of Vietnam's best goalkeepers,with a great physique that would help strengthen Vietnam's defence, especiallyin set pieces.
Youngplayers such as Duc Chien, Thanh Binh, Van Nam and Hoang Anh, all eligiblefor the SEA Games in May, might be given a chance in Vietnam's last game in theWorld Cup Qualifiers. An opportunity to compete against continental stars suchas Takumi Minamino, Takefusa Kubo and Maya Yoshida does not come often, andwith a chance like that comes precious experience.
"Manypeople said that I don't give chances to young players," said coachPark in the post-match press conference on Thursday.
"However,I think young players should prove themselves in training and preparationfirst, that way I can give them the opportunities they need easier."
Theiropponent, Japan, have already qualified for the World Cup after a 2-0 winagainst Australia last week in Melbourne. Japan manager Hajime Moriyasucan choose to rest some key players in the match against Vietnam, and thisprobably can be the Golden Star Warriors' chance to surprise.
TheBlue Samurai seemed to be struggling against low-block defensive teams,and their strikers are not in good form either. Japan could have exitedAustralia with only one point, had it not been for Kaoru Mitoma's double strikein the last two minutes of the game.
The Vietnamteam is not only good in defence, but they are more flexible than ever.The first ten minutes of the second half against Oman is solid proof thatthe men in red can attack and pressure the opponent, and only lack thefinishing touches needed for a goal.
Withall of those factors, it is understandable why coach Park and the teamstill try to emit a positive message. Vietnam will go into Saitama Stadiumfacing the number one team in Asia, with a belief that they could make adifference.
Andif every single fan has faith in them, "The Vietnam team will have avery promising future", said Oman's manager Branko Ivankovic./.
VNA
