Ho Chi Minh City, 5 October 2025 – Goalkeeper Dang Van Lam could not hide his excitement as he officially returned to the Vietnam national team after more than a year’s absence.
On the afternoon of October 5, the Vietnamese national team held their first official training session at Go Dau Stadium to prepare for the upcoming Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier against Nepal. Before training began, Van Lam was selected to speak with the media. After several call-ups missed due to injury and competition, the Vietnamese-Russian keeper earned a recall thanks to his outstanding performances for Ninh Binh FC this season.
The 31-year-old expressed his joy at being back in national colors. “It’s been quite a long time since I last joined the national team, but it still feels like yesterday. Everything is so familiar. I’m very happy to see my teammates again. I’ll give my best and dedicate everything for the national team,” Van Lam said with a smile.
He also shared about the positive atmosphere within the squad under head coach Kim Sang Sik: “Yesterday I had dinner with everyone, and I also met Coach Kim Sang Sik to greet and chat. The mood in the team is very cheerful. Everyone is full of excitement and motivation. From now on, we’ll focus completely on our preparation and goals with the national team.”
This is Van Lam’s first return to the Vietnam squad since September 2024. The experienced goalkeeper will face tough competition from in-form shot-stoppers such as Nguyen Van Viet and Tran Trung Kien for the starting position.
“Just like every national team gathering, this camp brings together the best players in the country,” Van Lam continued. “The three of us goalkeepers will support each other in both training and matches. The final decision of who will start belongs to the head coach. From today, we’ll start working closely on the pitch, and the coaching staff will have plenty of time to help the younger players develop.”
When asked about the upcoming opponent, Van Lam admitted that the team has yet to study Nepal in detail: “At the moment, we don’t have much information about Nepal. Soon, we’ll analyze their footage and discuss tactical plans to find the best way to approach the game.”
The Vietnam national team will continue to train and reside in Thu Dau Mot City, Binh Duong Province, in preparation for the crucial Asian Cup 2027 qualifying match. Coach Kim Sang Sik’s side will face Nepal at 7:30 p.m. on October 9 at Go Dau Stadium.
Thanh Trang
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