“22-year-old Hai will skipper Park Hang-seo’s Vietnam at the SEA Games and nothing less than a gold medal will be on the minds of the travelling squadron that is brimming with young talent,” the sport website said.

Vietnamese star midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai.

Hai helped Hanoi FC reach the Inter-Zone Play-Off Final of the AFC Cup 2019 this season and was also instrumental in the nation’s quarter final appearance at the AFC Asian Cup 2019 earlier in the year.

“Being the more experienced and most talented individual in the group, he will now be expected to inspire his teammates as they go in search for their first-ever SEA Games gold in men’s football,” the website added.

Making up the rest of the list FOX Sports Asia have included Supachok Sarachat of Thailand, Luqman Hakim of Malaysia, Stephan Schrock of the Philippines, Muhammad Rafli of Indonesia, and Faris Ramli of Singapore.

Vietnam got off to a flying start on November 25 as they crushed Brunei 6-0 in the opening match of Group B

Hai, who is the captain of the Vietnamese team, did not play in the first match.

SEA Games: Vietnam crush Brunei 6-0 at first men’s football match

The men’s football team of Vietnam secured a perfect start for their 30th SEA Games journey with an emphatic 6 – 0 victory against Brunei at Binan stadium in the Philippines on November 25 afternoon.

Men’s and women’s football teams leave for SEA Games 30

Both men’s and women’s U22 national football teams of Vietnam left for the Philippines on November 22 afternoon to compete in the 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 30).

Vietnam U21s crowned champions at int’l U21 football tournament

Vietnam U21s defeated Japan’s student team with two unanswered goals in the final match of the 2019 International U21 Football Tournament at Hoa Xuan Stadium in Da Nang City on November 5 to lift the overall trophy in style.

ASEAN, FIFA agree to cooperate to develop football in Southeast Asia

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Thailand on November 2 to promote social development and healthy lifestyles in the region through football.

Vietnam beat Hanyang University in int’l U21 football champs

Vietnam's U21 team trounced Hanyang University of the Republic of Korea 4-1 in the first match of the International U21 Football Championship 2019 at Hoa Xuan Stadium in the central city of Da Nang on October 30.

Source: VNA