Two Vietnam national players contract Covid before Australia clash

By Lam Thoa January 12, 2022 | 01:19 am PT

Nguyen Hoang Duc takes a shot in the SEA Games 30 match between Vietnam and Indonesia on December 1, 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong

Nguyen Hoang Duc and Nguyen Van Toan are in quarantine due to Covid-19 and will miss several training sessions in preparation for the World Cup qualifier against Australia.

Duc tested positive for Covid-19 on Jan. 6. Although his quick test result on Tuesday was negative, he will have to take a PCR test and stay in quarantine for at least four more days for the safety of other players on the national team.

Toan is also in treatment for Covid-19 and won’t be able to follow the training plan of the national team.

Duc and Toan are among 30 players that coach Park Hang-seo called up for the away game with Australia on Jan. 27 and home game with China on Feb. 1 in the final round of World Cup qualifiers.

Nguyen Van Toan during training. Photo by VnExpress/Lam Thoa

Australia have really strict immigration rules for Covid-19. Recently, the visa of Serbian tennis superstar Novak Djokovic was canceled after he didn’t meet the entry requirement for an unvaccinated traveler in Australia.

All members of the Vietnam national team have received the third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine after AFF Cup.

This is Vietnam’s first time ever in the final round of World Cup qualifiers. The Golden Dragons are at the bottom of group B after losing all six matches so far.