On the morning of April 6th, the U23 Vietnam national team, under the guidance of Head Coach Hoang Anh Tuan, commenced their first training session at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center. This marked the beginning of their preparation for the 2024 AFC U23 Championship, reflecting a mixture of excitement and determination among the young players selected for this crucial phase leading up to the tournament.
Despite the challenge of missing a complete squad due to the ongoing V.League schedule, the atmosphere at the training session was notably upbeat. Midfielder Nguyen Thai Son and forward Vo Nguyen Hoang of Dong A Thanh Hoa are set to join the squad later in the day, rounding out the team. Unfortunately, forward Nguyen Thanh Nhan, who suffered a shoulder injury during a match for PVF-CAND in the national first division, faces uncertainty regarding his participation in the championship. To bolster the squad depth, Coach Tuan has called up Nguyen Van Tung of Hanoi FC as an additional striker.
The initial training focused on loosening up and assessing the players’ fitness levels, with Coach Tuan taking the opportunity to motivate his team and remind them of the significance of their upcoming challenges. U23 Vietnam finds itself in a tough group with formidable opponents like Uzbekistan, Kuwait, and Malaysia, but Coach Tuan is setting realistic yet ambitious goals, primarily aiming to advance beyond the group stage.
Emphasizing the importance of setting goals to inspire effort while remaining grounded, Tuan shared, “Our first objective is to ensure players perform to the best of their abilities and play with dedication. Advancing from the group stage is challenging but achievable. Knowing our position, we’ll strategize accordingly. Success in the group stage could pave the way for us to aim higher.”
Tuan, who historically led the U19 Vietnam team to the FIFA U20 World Cup 2017, views the U23 level as pivotal for grooming talent for the national team. He assured that players demonstrating form and meeting the team’s requirements would be selected, stressing the unique opportunity the AFC U23 Championship provides for players to enhance their skills and aim for the national team.
As per the schedule, U23 Vietnam will focus on tactical training later today and will continue with two more sessions on April 7th before heading to Qatar for a pre-tournament training camp on April 8th. A friendly match against U23 Jordan on April 10th will serve as the final tune-up before the championship.
U23 Vietnam is set to kick off their campaign in Group D against U23 Kuwait on April 17th, aiming for a promising start in their quest for glory at the 2024 AFC U23 Championship.
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