On October 10, the night is low, Beijing time, a soccer feast is about to be staged in Dalian Sports Center. Vietnam's soccer team, led by the mysterious coach, Lucier, will face the challenge of the Chinese men's soccer team. According to the Vietnamese media, the "White Wizard" Troussier has prepared a 3-4-1-2 formation for the match, which is a drastic change from his predecessor Park Hang-su's lineup.
Looking back at the last time the two teams met, it was back in February 2022, when the Chinese men's soccer team defeated Vietnam by a score of 1-3 at the My Thanh National Stadium. Since then, the team coached by Park Hang-su has shone at the Southeast Asian Football Championships, while Troussier has taken over the coaching reins to bring new energy to Vietnamese soccer.
Troussier has made drastic changes to the Vietnamese team since taking over, with young players like Phan Chun Thoi (22-year-old rising star), Phan Van Duc (key goal against the national team in the Round of 12), Nguyen Thai Son (20) and Huynh Van Cuong (20) coming to the fore, while mid-career players such as Tran Dinh Trung have faded out. In the past three warm-up matches, Vietnam won all of them, one of which was a 1-0 home win over Syria.
On this international day, Troussier announced a 33-man squad, only to tweak the lineup before departure. Le Van Du, Huu Chinh Cai (who scored against the national soccer team in the Round of 12), Nguyen Thanh Nhan, Nguyen Duc Phu, Nguyen Duc Anh, and Duan Van Hau (who was injured) were eliminated from the squad, while youngster Vu Minh Trung was added to the left back position.
According to Vietnamese media sources, Troussier will play a 3-4-1-2 formation for Vietnam in the match. Goalkeeper Dang Van Linh, three center backs Do Vi Manh, Bui Hoang Viet Anh and Kuey Nguyen Ngoc Hai, Huynh Van Cuong and Phan Chun Thoi as right wingback and left wingback respectively, Do Hung Dung and Nguyen Hoang Duc partnering in a double back, and Nguyen Quang Hai ambling behind Pham Chun Hai and Nguyen Chinh Linh.
Here is Vietnam's expected starting lineup (3-4-1-2):
Goalkeeper: Deng Wenlin
Defenders: Do Vi Meng, Bui Hoang Viet Anh, Gui Nguyen Hai
Midfield: Huu Van Cuong, Do Hung Dung, Nguyen Hoang Duc, Phan Chun Cai
Front: Nguyen Quang Hai
Forward: Nguyen Chinh Linh, Pham Chun Hai
