Brand new faces called up to national team for Australia clash

The list of 30 players was announced by Park on Friday. Besides key players, the head coach added new names like defender Nguyen Huu Tuan (Hoang Anh Gia Lai) and midfielder To Van Vu (Becamex Binh Duong) as well as some promising youngsters.

The national team will miss many important players due to injuries like keeper Dang Van Lam, defender Do Duy Manh, along with full-backs Nguyen Trong Hoang and Doan Van Hau. In return, the team will welcome back a key player in the midfield - Do Hung Dung, who has recovered from a serious injury last year.

After the upset at AFF Cup in December, when Vietnam were eliminated by Thailand in the semifinals, Park wants players to return to their humble beginnings like in 2018, with "humility but full of desire."

He also made some changes, with Que Ngoc Hai no longer the captain. The same goes for vice-captains Pham Duc Huy and Luong Xuan Truong.

The national team are set to return to training next week in Hanoi. Park will cross out seven names before bringing 23 to Australia on Jan. 20. Vietnam will play Australia on Jan. 27 then return to Hanoi to play China on Feb. 1.