Goalkeeper Nguyễn Văn Hoàng joins the national team's World Cup campaign in the last minutes. Photo nguoiduatin.vn

Football

HÀ NỘI — Goalkeeper Nguyễn Văn Hoàng of Sông Lam Nghệ An has been added to the national team squad to compete at the coming 2022 World Cup qualifiers in the UAE.

Hoàng, who was one of 10 players from the team's training camp left out of the original squad on Tuesday, was added to the team at the last-minute as No 1 keeper Đặng Văn Lâm can no longer join the team by May 27 as first planned.

Previously, Lâm received the okay from his Japanese side Cerezo Osaka to leave the club on May 26 as long as they had two other fit goalkeepers for their coming match on May 31.

However, on Tuesday, the club announced that one of them had an injury problem so Lâm will be needed for the game against Kashima Antlers.

The Vietnamese goalie can only join the team on June 2 and will miss a friendly match against Jordan on May 31.

After the news, coach Park Hang-seo decided to recall the 26-year-old Hoàng.

The 30-strong contingent, who has left Hà Nội on Wednesday afternoon, received an encouragement letter from President Nguyễn Xuân Phúc.

In the letter, Phúc wished the players good health and to grab high results from the coming three games.

"Following what they have won in recent regional tournaments, the yellow-star warriors will target higher goal, taking a berth in the final qualification round of the 2022 World Cup. Millions of national fans will watch, support and encourage you," he wrote.

"We believe that under coach Park and his assistants, our beloved players in a united team would be confident and do all the best to lift Vietnamese football to the world."

Coach Park, on behalf of the whole team, promised to overcome challenges and difficulties to complete the task, highlighting Việt Nam's will and spirit. VNS