During the upcoming campaign, Vietnam will be joined by top-ranked Japan, along with Australia, Saudi Arabia, China and Oman in Group B. Park’s side will play 10 group matches from September 2021 to March 2022, five at home and five away.

Goalkeeper Dang Van Lam has been named in the Vietnamese squad for the final round of the 2022 World Cup Asian qualifiers.

To prepare for the away clash against Saudi Arabia on September 2, the Golden Star Warriors reconvened on August 5 with 31 players. However, during this training camp, forward Nguyen Cong Phuong and goalkeeper Dang Van Lam are absent for different reasons, with Phuong dealing with some family affairs.

Meanwhile, Lam is joining Cerezo Osaka FC to play in the J1 League, Japan’s top-tier. The Vietnamese keeper is only allowed to return to the Vietnam national team for FIFA-level matches.

In recent times, coach Park Hang-seo has also assigned goalkeeping coach Nguyen The Anh to regularly exchange and update information about Lam’s health, training and competition situation. The Korean tactician attaches special importance to the position of goalkeeper, thus deciding to give Lam the chance to join with the national team for the first games of the final round of the World Cup qualifiers.

The presence of Dang Van Lam promises to create positive competition for the goalkeeping position in the Vietnamese lineup which now features three goalies - Bui Tan Truong, Nguyen Van Toan and Nguyen Van Hoang.

As scheduled, Lam will take a direct flight from Japan to Saudi Arabia on August 29 to meet up with the Vietnam national team. He will have three days to train with teammates and show off his form before Park officially announces his final 23-man squad for the Group B opener against the hosts.

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Source: NDO