Striker Nguyễn Anh Đức (left) seen in a training session with the Vietnamese national team. Photo thanhnien.vn

Football

HÀ NỘI — Veteran striker Nguyễn Anh Đức scored one goal to help the national senior team beat the U22 squad 2-1 in a friendly match on Tuesday in preparation for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers.

Đức’s goal may have bolstered his case for inclusion in the travelling squad for the UAE.

Coach Park Hang-seo called up three classic centre-forwards for the final three matches in the second qualifying round for the 2022 World Cup, namely Nguyễn Tiến Linh of Becamex Bình Dương, Hà Đức Chinh of SHB Đà Nẵng and Đức of Long An.

Of the three, Chinh has had the worst season with only two goals in 12 matches in the V.League 1.

Meanwhile, Đức is in good form with five goals in six matches for Long An, albeit in the V.League 2. 

However, at present Linh is still most likely to win the starting spot.

Linh has scored six goals in the top-flight league this year, only one behind the top scorers of his fellow national team forward Nguyễn Văn Toàn, Oussou Konan Anicet and Rodrigo Dias who all scored seven goals.

With his tall frame and good hold-up play, Linh is suited to playing the role of a loan striker and can bring other players like Phan Văn Đức, Nguyễn Công Phượng and Toàn into the game.

According to pundits, Linh gives opposing defences the most problems of all Việt Nam's striker and his finishing is improving.

However, Park likely brought the 36-year-old Đức back into the national team with a plan in mind.

Đức could be in the squad as just another option, to provide more competition for the junior players or perhaps he may even be a surprise starter.

Striker Nguyễn Anh Đức (right) seen in a recent match of the V.League 2. Photo nld.com.vn

Special player

Đức is the oldest player in the team and has 10 years on most of his teammates. He is also the only member of the squad playing in the V.League 2, while the rest play in the V.League 1. Đức is also the only player who has an 'A' coaching certificate among the players.

Đức is not only a player but also a director of many companies in the southern province of Bình Dương.

The 2020 season was unsuccessful for Đức. He left V.League 1 club Bình Dương after 13 years and played for Hoàng Anh Gia Lai in the latter half of the season.

Coach Park selected Đức for a training camp last August but when the camp was rescheduled for December, many thought that meant the end of his national team career.

Striker Nguyễn Anh Đức is in good form when he plays for Long An in the V.League 2. Photo docnhanh.com.vn

However, early this year, Đức signed for Long An in the V.League 2 and has thrived, taking the captain's armband, leading the line and working as an assistant to coach Ngô Quang Sang.

Đức has scored five goals in six matches to help lift a team that was almost relegated in the 2020 season to the top three. VNS