VIETNAM
Vietnam are not just one of two teams (the other being Vanuatu) making their U-20 World Cup debut: this will be the first time that any Vietnamese team has competed in an 11-a-side FIFA tournament.
Led by Hoang Anh Tuan, the country’s only coach to hold a UEFA Pro-equivalent license, Vietnam qualified after defeating hosts Bahrain in the quarter-finals of the 2016 AFC U19 Championship.
Midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai, the team’s captain and one of six players from Ha Noi FC, is known as the “King of Vietnam Youth Tournaments” and brings both talent and three years of experience in the national team system. He’ll be joined on the pitch by key defender Nguyen Trong Dai and promising striker Ha Duc Chinh, who has already scored 7 goals this year for SHB Da Nang.
Coach Hoang has stated that he would be happy if his team becomes the first-ever Southeast Asian side to claim a point in U-20 World Cup history, but even with favored side France in the group there is a distinct possibility that Vietnam could claim a spot in the Round of 16 as one of the best third-placed teams.
Schedule (all times GMT+9)
May 22 – vs. New Zealand (Cheonan, 20:00)
May 25 – vs. France (Cheonan, 17:00)
May 28 – vs. Honduras (Jeonju, 15:00)