Vietnam will be strong favourites to retain their status as kings of Southeast Asia at the upcoming AFF Suzuki Cup, after coach Park Hang-seo named a formidable 30-man squad for the tournament on Tuesday morning.
A total of 15 players from the 23-man roster that tasted glory three years ago will once again lead the Vietnamese quest for regional glory, headlined by 2018 Most Valuable Player Nguyen Quang Hai, captain Que Ngoc Hai and rising star Nguyen Tien Linh.
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The latest edition of the Suzuki Cup, postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will feature expanded squads of up to 30, which has allowed Vietnam coach Park Hang-seo the opportunity to also give a handful of unproven youngsters some valuable experience at the competition.
Ten players that have been called up boast five international appearances or less to their names, including a trio of uncapped names in Quan Van Chuan, Do Thanh Thinh and Tran Van Dat.
The most notable omissions from the Vietnam side are goalkeeper Dang Van Lam, currently on the books of Japanese outfit Cerezo Osaka, and Doan Van Hau, who had a brief stint in the Eredivisie with Heerenveen, while other key absentees from 2018 include stalwarts Nguyen Van Quyet and Nguyen Anh Duc, who have been phased out of the national team fold over the past 36 months.
Despite Viettel's status as the most recent champions of the V.League 1, it is Hanoi who boast the most call-ups with the likes of Quang Hai, Do Duy Manh and Do Hung Dung among nine players from the capital club that will be involved over the next month in the tournament that will be held in Singapore.
Vietnam kick off their Group B campaign on Dec. 6 against Laos and then meet Malaysia -- whom they beat in the 2018 final -- and Indonesia, before finishing up against Cambodia on Dec. 19.
Vietnam squad for AFF Suzuki Cup 2020
Goalkeepers: Bui Tan Truong (Hanoi), Tran Nguyen Manh (Viettel), Nguyen Van Hoang (Song Lam Nghe An), Quan Van Chuan (Phu Tho)
Defenders: Que Ngoc Hai, Bui Tien Dung, Nguyen Thanh Binh (Viettel), Do Duy Manh, Tran Dinh Trong, Nguyen Thanh Chung, Bui Hoang Viet Anh (Hanoi), Vu Van Thanh, Nguyen Phong Hong Duy (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Ho Tan Tai (Topenland Binh Dinh), Pham Xuan Manh (Song Lam Nghe An), Do Thanh Thinh (SHB Da Nang)
Midfielders: Luong Xuan Truong, Nguyen Tuan Anh, Tran Minh Vuong (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Nguyen Quang Hai, Do Hung Dung, Pham Duc Huy, Le Van Xuan (Hanoi), Phan Van Duc (Song Lam Nghe An), Nguyen Hoang Duc (Viettel)
Forwards: Nguyen Cong Phuong, Nguyen Van Toan (Hoang Anh Gia Lai), Nguyen Tien Linh (Becamex Binh Duong), Ha Duc Chinh (SHB Da Nang), Tran Van Dat (Cong An Nhan Dan)