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Vietnam to play in friendly match against India on FIFA Days
South Korean coach Kim Sang-sik has called up 27 players for training to prepare for a friendly match against India on FIFA Days in October, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) announced.
Coach Kim has increased the youthfulness for the squad by summoning a number of U23 players to the team.
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Vietnam players celebrate after scoring in the 2-4 loss to Japan in the group stage of the 2023 Asian Cup. |
The VFF said the Lebanese Football Federation sent a letter of apology to announce their withdrawal from the international friendly tournament coinciding with the FIFA Days in October 2024. The tournament will be hosted at Thien Truong Stadium in Nam Dinh Province in northern Vietnam.
Initially, Vietnam were set to face India on Oct. 9 and Lebanon on Oct. 15, while the Indian and Lebanese teams were scheduled to meet on Oct. 12. All matches were to be counted according to FIFA rankings.
With Lebanon's withdrawal, Vietnam risk only playing one match on the FIFA Days, potentially impacting their preparation for the ASEAN Cup at the end of the year.
There are only two FIFA Days left in October and November for coach Kim to test his squad and tactics. Since replacing Philippe Troussier in June 2024, the Korean coach has struggled to make a significant impact, with the team losing their last three matches against Iraq, Russia and Thailand.
Currently, the VFF has no plans to find a replacement opponent for the Vietnamese team. Inviting another national team for a friendly match is challenging at this time, as many have already scheduled their fixtures.
Vietnam may end up playing two matches against India, who will also be one match down due to Lebanon's withdrawal.
During his introduction as Vietnam’s new national head football coach, Kim Sang-sik said he was confident that he and his new squad would achieve their goals through loyalty and dedication.
After signing a three-year contract with a Japanese partner, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) will have more financial resources to search for a new manager of the national team.
Brazilian football legends Dunga, Rivaldo, Lucio, Edmilson, Kleber, Giovani, Zé Carlos, and Paulo Sergio will feature in the Brazil-Vietnam Football Festival 2024 in the central beach city of Da Nang in April.
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