Striker Nguyễn Văn Quyết has been called to the national team for the international friendly tournament in HCM City. Photo tin247.news

Football

HÀ NỘI — Striker Nguyễn Văn Quyết is among 31 players called up to the national team by coach Park Hang-seo for an upcoming international friendly tournament in HCM City.

The captain of Hà Nội FC was a member of the 2018 AFF Cup winning squad but hasn't featured for the national side since December 2020, missing out on the second and third qualifying round of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the AFF Cup 2020.

The 31-year-olds recall is in recognition of his strong performances since the beginning of the season, being named Man of the Match several times. He is considered 'the soul' of Hà Nội FC in this year's V.League 1, helping his team to the top of the league. He has scored six goals in 14 matches.

As well as Quyết, Hà Nội FC contributed six other players, including defender Đoàn Văn Hậu, who has recovered from injury. The last time the Thái Bình native featured for the national side was a 2-3 loss to the UAE in the second qualifying round of the 2022 World Cup on June 15, 2021. In July this year, he only returned for the capital side in V.League 1.

Viettel also contributed seven players to the side picked by Park, followed by Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (6), Bình Định (3), Hải Phòng (2), Sông Lam Nghệ An (2), Đà Nẵng (2), and Bình Dương (1).

One of the other names of interest is midfielder Nguyễn Quang Hải, who plays for Pau FC of French and will return home for the tournament.

Between the sticks, Park named three options: Đặng Văn Lâm, Trần Nguyên Mạnh and Nguyễn Văn Toản.

Lâm has just returned to V.League 1 after a long time playing for Cerezo Osaka in the J1 League and Muangthong United in the Thai League 1. With his brilliant performances recently and international experience, the goalie, whose father is Vietnamese and mother is Russian, is likely to be first-choice.

Park also named a few fresh faces from the U23 squad, such as Khuất Văn Khang, Phan Tuấn Tài, Nhâm Mạnh Dũng, Nguyễn Thanh Nhân and Lương Duy Cương.

The team will convene in HCM City on September 17, where they will have four days to prepare for the international friendly tournament, which will take place on September 21-27 at the Thống Nhất Stadium. Việt Nam's opponents in this tournament are Singapore and India. VNS