Injuries hurt Vietnam's power in Asian Cup

By Lam Thoa January 3, 2024 | 12:53 am PT

Nguyen Tien Linh (number 22) and Que Ngoc Hai (number 3) are likely to miss the 2024 Asian Cup. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa

Two key players Que Ngoc Hai and Nguyen Tien Linh are unlikely to recover in time for Asian Cup, joining a long list of injuries for the Vietnam national football team.

Defender Hai tore his muscle in October and that injury came back during a training session on Dec. 15. Striker Linh got a groin muscle injury during a league game on Dec. 26.

The duo were still called up by head coach Philippe Troussier for the 2024 Asian Cup, but doctors have said it's hard for them to recover in time.

It's most likely that they will be off the squad list before the national team go to Qatar on Jan. 5.

The injuries of Linh and Hai added to the current personnel crisis of the team. After gathering the team on Dec. 31, coach Troussier had to drop the number one goalkeeper Dang Van Lam, defender Nguyen Thanh Chung and midfielder Hoang Van Toan due to injuries.

The French coach then called up defender Bui Tien Dung as a replacement, but this player could not meet his requirements due to fitness problems.

Midfielder Nguyen Hoang Duc is also injured, leaving the possibility of playing in the Asian Cup open.

The 2024 Asian Cup takes place from Jan. 12 to Feb. 10, 2024 in Qatar. 24 teams are divided into six groups and will compete to select the six first teams, six second teams and four third teams to enter the round of 16.

Vietnam are in group D and will play Japan on Jan. 14, Indonesia on Jan. 19 and Iraq on the 24th.

At the 2019 Asian Cup, Vietnam reached the quarterfinals and lost 1-0 to Japan through a Ritsu Doan penalty.