Coach Kim Sang-sik eliminated Tran Thanh Trung

Coach Kim Sang-sik confirmed that midfielder Tran Thanh Trung is not on the list of 23 players of U23 Vietnam participating in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship Qualifiers.

The Korean coach said this was a temporary decision and Thanh Trung was still part of the team's long-term plan. "Because of the regulation that only 23 players can be registered, Trung has not participated this time. However, he has shown good basic skills and a high fighting spirit, promising to be a quality addition to the U23 Vietnam team in the future," coach Kim Sang-sik shared at a Group C press conference on the afternoon of September 2.

Regarding preparation, the Korean coach said that U23 Vietnam has the strongest squad to win a ticket to the final round. “Except for Van Khang, who is a bit strained but can still play, the remaining players are in good shape. We have studied our opponents carefully. Singapore and Bangladesh have less information, while Yemen is the most unpredictable team. However, U23 Vietnam will focus on each match, and the goal is to win all three matches.”

He also appreciated the spirit of his players when the tournament took place on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day. "The players are all proud to compete at this meaningful time. This is a source of inspiration for the whole team to aim for the matches with the highest determination. U23 Vietnam just won the U23 Southeast Asian Championship in July, and that is also an important spiritual boost for this tournament."

Tran Thanh Trung is not in the plans of U23 Vietnam.

In addition, coach Kim Sang-sik said the coaching staff is looking for ways to maximize the ability of Le Viktor, a highly rated player who has not played much recently: "The use of Viktor depends on the opponent and the tactics of each match. We will find ways to maximize his ability in the future."

Meanwhile, U23 Singapore coach Firdaus Kassim assessed U23 Vietnam as the strongest team in Group C and expected to learn many things from this tournament. Representatives from Bangladesh and Yemen also showed high determination, promising exciting matches in the upcoming qualifying round.

According to the match schedule, U23 Vietnam will meet Bangladesh on September 3, Singapore on September 6 and Yemen on September 9. The team's goal is to win a ticket to the final round.

Source: https://znews.vn/hlv-kim-sang-sik-loai-tran-thanh-trung-post1582031.html