Football

The national women's football team has begun training for the 2024 Olympics qualification next month. Photo of VFF

HÀ NỘI — Mai Đức Chung and his players are in Quảng Ninh Province to prepare for 2024 Olympics qualification.

Chung has called 31 players who will focus on improving their fitness for one week in Cẩm Phả city. They will return to Hà Nội for tactics and technique training.

Among them, 11 are from national champion HCM City, while National Cup winner Việt Nam Coal and Mineral and Hà Nội have eight each while two are from Phong Phú Hà Nam and Thái Nguyên.

Apart from regular faces, Chung is giving chances to several young players such as goalkeeper Đoàn Thị Ngọc Phượng and forward Ngô Thị Hồng Nhung of HCM City, defender Hà Thị Ngọc Uyên of Hà Nam and forward Vũ Thị Hoa of Hà Nội.

Forward Nguyễn Thị Thúy Hằng and defender Đinh Thị Thùy Dung of Coal and Minerals, midfielder Cù Thị Huỳnh Như of HCM City and forward Lê Thị Thùy Trang of Thái Nguyên are back after being ousted from the team previously.

In this gathering time, talented midfielder Nguyễn Thị Vạn and star forward Huỳnh Như can not join the team. Vạn suffered a torn ligament in the National Cup final last week while Như is busy with her Lank FC in the Portugues league.

The team will have several friendly matches before facing Nepal in the first match of the qualifier.

Speaking to reporters, Chung said in 2023 his players would take part in a range of important competitions such as the first Olympics qualifier, the 32nd SEA Games, the 19th Asian Games and the FIFA World Cup.

"To have best preparation for these events, we have called many players, including young faces to practise," said Chung.

"All of them must work hard to sharpen their skills and meet our requirements. In the Olympic qualification, we will play against lower-ranked rivals. We must not be subjective but must be focused for good results," he said.

Việt Nam will travel to play Nepal twice on April 5 and 8 in Group C. The winner will advance to the second qualification round.

Previously, the group included three teams. But Afghanistan withdrew days ago.

"Nepal is world No 103 while we are No 34. We are much higher than them in the ranking but they will have home field advantage. Currently, many countries have strongly invested in women's football, Nepal being among them. We have to respect them," Chung said.

"We will make plans for both matches and give opportunities to play for young players. We want to win all games." VNS