Vietnam welcome back key defender ahead of World Cup qualifier against Japan

Key defender Tran Dinh Trong, who had suffered a long-term injury, was back to training on November 8, which is good news for home fans as Vietnam prepare to face Japan in the final round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Asian Qualifiers in two days’ time.

Injured defender Tran Dinh Trong back to training with his teammates in Hanoi on November 8, 2021. (Photo: Vietnam Football Federation)
Injured defender Tran Dinh Trong back to training with his teammates in Hanoi on November 8, 2021. (Photo: Vietnam Football Federation)

Sharing with reporters, the Hanoi FC’s defender said that he had completely recovered from the injury and was ready to play in the match against visitors Japan.

Trong has been coach Park Hang-seo’s top choice for his three-man defensive line in various tournaments, however, the serious injury forced the defender to miss Vietnam’s clash against the Japanese team in the quarter-finals at the 2019 Asian Cup.

This time, he will have chance to help Vietnam hunt for their first ever scores in the last round of the World Cup Qualifiers against the top continental opponents.

“Personally, the whole team and I are excited and ready for the upcoming match. Japan is a very strong team, and we are preparing measures to face them both mentally and tactically ,” Trong said.

In Group B, Japan are not in good standing (fourth place with six points) that force them to play with utmost caution and determination against hosts Vietnam, who sit at the bottom without any points after four games.

Trong said as the Japanese team are cope with more pressure from fans and media, this could be an advantage for the Vietnamese team in the upcoming match.

However, he was cautious about the threat from many Japanese stars who are playing for big clubs in Europe.

“Everyone knows that Japan have many famous players playing in Europe. They are all especially dangerous, including Liverpool striker Takumi Minamino. All Japanese players can bring danger to the Vietnamese team,” said Trong.

Also at the training session yesterday afternoon, the Vietnamese team welcomed the presence of young goalkeeper Quan Van Chuan from the Vietnam U23 team. Chuan was promoted to participate in training with his senior teammates so as to continue to be an option in the plan to prepare for the upcoming AFF Suzuki Cup 2020.

Previously, after the end of the 2022 AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, there were 9 players participating in training with seniors, including goalkeeper Nguyen Van Toan, defenders Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Nguyen Thanh Binh and Nham Manh Dung, midfielders Le Van Xuan, Ly Cong Hoang Anh and Le Van Do, and strikers Tran Van Dat and recently Ho Thanh Minh.

The addition of Van Chuan will help the Vietnamese team strengthen their squad as top choice keeper Van Lam is recovering from an injury, while Van Toan also needs a solution to treat his shoulder inflammation definitively although Toan can still compete.

Here are some photos from Vietnam’s yesterday training camp: