At first glance, the goalkeeper position didn’t appear to be a concern for Kim Sang Sik during Vietnam’s most recent training camp in March. The South Korean coach had four goalkeepers ready to play.

Initially, he called up Dinh Trieu, Van Viet, and Nguyen Filip to prepare for the Asian Cup qualifiers against Laos and a friendly with Cambodia at Go Dau Stadium.

However, Nguyen Filip withdrew due to personal reasons, prompting Kim to call up Trung Kien from the U22 team as a replacement. Later, Xuan Hoang was also added to the roster as a backup, considering Dinh Trieu's injury during the camp.

In addition to these names, coach Kim Sang Sik has other options in reserve, such as Dang Van Lam and Thanh Tung (Ha Tinh), who may be considered in the near future.

Confidence still lacking

While the numbers may seem sufficient, the goalkeeping position remains a major headache for Kim Sang Sik. Dang Van Lam exemplifies the dilemma.

Despite his proven quality, the Vietnamese-Russian goalkeeper appears to be excluded from Kim’s plans, having missed several recent call-ups. Kim has chosen to give chances to young, inexperienced goalkeepers instead of recalling Van Lam.

Nguyen Filip’s return is uncertain, as his recent form has been inconsistent. Personal issues following the ASEAN Cup further complicate his availability.

Meanwhile, Dinh Trieu, currently considered Vietnam’s number one goalkeeper, is sidelined with an injury and has missed recent matches for Hai Phong FC. Even upon his return, he will need time to regain top form.

The remaining goalkeepers show promise, but putting full trust in them requires bold decisions from Kim Sang Sik - especially with a critical match against Malaysia looming in June for the Asian Cup qualifiers.

Duy Nguyen