Vietnam team lost Phan Van Duc, Bui Tien Dung

These two players still attended the friendly match against the Philippines 1-0 on the evening of December 14. Tien Dung kicks in, and Van Duc comes in as a substitute from the second half. A day later, both showed signs of fatigue, were tested and found to be positive for Covid-19. After that, both were isolated from the whole team.

Therefore, Tien Dung and Van Duc were absent from the training session this afternoon, December 16. When midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai gave a quick interview to the press before the training session, coach Park Hang-seo asked him and reporters to wear masks to prevent the epidemic.

Currently, the Lao side does not require a Covid-19 test upon entry. However, after deliberating, the Vietnam coaching staff decided to let the two players stay at home to rest in isolation, to avoid spreading the infection to other members.

The Vietnamese team will go to Laos with exactly 23 players. Previously, Coach Park closed the list of 25 people on the afternoon of December 15 with the case of midfielders Nguyen Hai Huy and Khuat Van Khang as backup.

Despite the absence of Van Duc and Tien Dung, the current squad is still deep enough, superior in strength to Laos. Coach Park affirmed that each position always has at least two players ready to play. The two members who did not practice in the previous sessions because of muscle problems, Doan Van Hau and Nguyen Hoang Duc, also returned to practice this afternoon.

Tomorrow 17/12, the Vietnamese team will leave the hotel at 7:10 am to Noi Bai airport. The team's plane took off at 9:25 a.m., expected to arrive in Vientiane, Laos at noon. If favorable, the team will go to the training ground in the afternoon of the same day.