Former Vietnam national team heroes eagerly awaits Cong Phuong return to the national team for the 2024 ASEAN Cup

Former Vietnamese national team stars such as goalkeeper Duong Hong Son and striker Thach Bao Khanh expressed their anticipation for Cong Phuong’s potential return to the national team for the upcoming ASEAN Cup 2024 (formerly AFF Cup) set to begin this December.

On October 26, Duong Hong Son and Thach Bao Khanh took part in the Trophy Tour event held in Hanoi, showcasing the ASEAN Mitsubishi Electric Cup around Southeast Asia in advance of the competition. The tour has already visited Bangkok, Singapore, and Kuala Lumpur, and will continue to Jakarta on November 2 and Manila on November 9 before the tournament’s start in December.

During the event, the two former players shared their insights with the media and fans. Duong Hong Son, recalling his championship win at the 2008 AFF Cup, said, “That title is a career milestone for me. I hope the younger players on the Vietnamese team maintain the same passion and desire to represent the country. Wearing the national colors is a great honor, and I wish the team unity and success in the upcoming ASEAN Cup. Seeing the trophy here brings back memories of 16 years ago when our team was struggling. We hadn’t won in 11 matches leading up to the tournament, but we came together and conquered the odds.”

Duong Hong Son also commented on the current goalkeeping options for Vietnam, including Nguyen Filip and Dang Van Lam, both competing for the starting role. “Coach Kim Sang Sik will surely choose the best lineup for the tournament,” he noted. “Nguyen Filip and Dang Van Lam have both demonstrated their skills. Whoever plays, I hope they bring the same commitment and passion to represent Vietnam.”

Vietnam will face Indonesia in the ASEAN Cup group stage, a team that has bested them three times in 2023 across various competitions. Duong Hong Son observed, “Indonesia has shown remarkable progress under Coach Shin Tae Yong. They’ve also added high-caliber naturalized players from Europe. For the fourth match against Indonesia, Vietnam should approach it with respect and caution. Football is unpredictable, and we hope for a positive result.”

In Group B, Vietnam will face Indonesia, the Philippines, Myanmar, and Laos. Group A includes Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia, and Timor-Leste. The ASEAN Cup 2024 group stage kicks off on December 8, with semifinals scheduled for December 26-27 and December 29-30, followed by the two-leg final on January 2 and January 5, 2025.

Reflecting on his own experience, Thach Bao Khanh shared a memorable moment from the 2008 victory: “Our coach, Henrique Calisto, reminded us that we had only one star: the one on our jerseys. He urged us to stay united and remember the millions of fans cheering us on. That gave us the strength to come together and win the title.”

As for Cong Phuong’s potential call-up, Khanh stated, “Not just Cong Phuong, but Vietnam has many promising players. Recently, Tuan Anh scored a fantastic goal in the AFC Champions League Two. I hope all our best players are ready to contribute to the national team. Ultimately, it’s the coach’s call based on each player’s form.”

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