Vietnam to have their most focused training camp for November’s 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers

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On Thursday, Park named a 27-member preliminary squad with all his best Vietnamese players to prepare for the two ties in mid-November. The players will gather from October 28 to November 20 for their most important training camp this year since the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in January.

Earlier, at the King’s Cup friendly tournament in Thailand last June and in the previous August training camp, Vietnam had only a few days of preparation. At the end of September, the team gathered from September 23, with nearly 20 days to prepare for the World Cup qualifier against Malaysia on October 10. However, Park only had his full squad a few days before the match at Hanoi’s My Dinh Stadium, as players from Hanoi FC, who make a core in the national squad, were busy playing away to DPR Korea’s 4.25 SC in the 2019 AFC Cup Inter-zonal Final.

In the upcoming gathering, since the V.League 1 has ended and Hanoi FC were eliminated in the AFC Cup, Park will have his best squad. Most of the team members will be present at their training camp on October 28, a day after the semi-finals of the National Cup. Those who play in the Cup final, scheduled for October 31, will return to the national squad right after finishing the game next Thursday.

The current rankings in Group G of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2023 AFC Asian Cup Joint-Qualifiers second round.

Muangthong United’s goalkeeper Dang Van Lam will return to Vietnam on time as the Thai League 1 will wrap up after its last matchday tomorrow evening. While duo Nguyen Cong Phuong and Doan Van Hau, who are playing in Europe, are only allowed to return to their home country 48 hours prior to Vietnam’s next game against UAE on November 14, according to FIFA rules.

Compared to the previous two World Cup qualifiers, where Vietnam were playing as guests, the team will be next to play on home ground at My Dinh, making it favourable for the squad regarding travelling and adapting to the climate in Hanoi.

Having their longest training camp, with the full squad and the most favourable conditions, promises to bring good results to Park’s side in the two upcoming important matches, against UAE on November 14 and Thailand on November 19.

Quang Hai and his teammates are level with Thailand at the top of Group G with seven points, only ranked second after their regional arch rivals due to goal difference. The “Golden Dragons” had recorded two wins from their two World Cup Qualifier matches in October, defeating Malaysia 1-0 and Indonesia 3-1 to make it seven points from three matches, after holding off hosts Thailand in a stalemate draw in their opener last September.