Vietnam team does not focus on FIFA Days
According to VFF's plan, the national team only focuses on the above period in March and does not follow the FIFA Days calendar (March 20 to 28). The expected number is 28 players with many familiar names. During the five-day gathering, the team is expected to play a friendly match with the juniors at U23 Vietnam.
FIFA Day is a time when clubs are required to release troops for the national team, and it is also the time to organize international friendly matches. Thus, it is likely that players Nguyen Quang Hai (Pau FC), Cong Phuong (Yokohama FC) and Van Toan (Seoul E-Land) will not be able to return to Vietnam in March.
In the FIFA Days calendar in March, Thailand is scheduled to meet Iraq and a team from West Asia, possibly the UAE. Meanwhile, Malaysia meets Turkmenistan and Taiwan (China) or Kuwait. Singapore also plays friendly matches with Hong Kong and Taiwan (China), while Indonesia has not decided on an opponent.
The FIFA calendar for 2023 includes five phases: March 20 to 28, June 12 to 20, September 4 to 12, October 9 to 17 and November 13 to 21.
The Vietnamese team focused on the above time because the V-League paused after the fourth round on February 19, and it will not be back until early April. Some teams will play the opening match of the National Cup from March 18. Meanwhile, the rest of the time is left to the national team, the U23 team is focused, and the U20 team of Vietnam attends the U20 Asian finals in Uzbekistan.
U23 Vietnam will be trained in four stages towards the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia. Coach Troussier will base the training process on each stage to eliminate players. Specifically, phase one from March 1 to 7 with a maximum of 35 players and 5 goalkeepers. The goal is to help the new head coach review and evaluate the quality. Phase two from March 8 to 12 with the number of players reduced to 28 players and 4 goalkeepers. Coach Troussier will convey gameplay and tactical combat.
Phase three from March 12 to 17 with 24 players and three goalkeepers. The team entered intensive training, expected to have one or two friendly matches against V-League Club. Phase four from 18 to 29/3 with the force almost closing the book for SEA Games 32. The team is expected to train and compete in friendly matches in the UAE.
After that, the players will return to the club to compete in the V-League and the First Division. The team will return to focus after the seventh round of the V-League, preparing to compete in the 32nd SEA Games with men's football competing from April 29 to May 16. This year's charter only allows the use of U22 players, ie born from January 1, 2001 or later.
