Vietnam U23 team faces last-minute uncertainty: Anxiety over serious injury to their "steel shield".

Just days before departing for Saudi Arabia to participate in the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, coach Kim Sang Sik unexpectedly faced a difficult personnel problem when goalkeeper Nguyen Tan suffered a serious injury.

Amidst fans counting down the days to the Golden Star Warriors' performance on the continental stage, news from the U23 Vietnam team's medical department came as a "cold shower" to the team's preparations. The last line of defense in goal – a position that needs the most stability – is now the focus of concern.

Unexpected loss in the goalkeeper position

Specifically, during a recent tactical training session, goalkeeper Nguyen Tan unfortunately suffered a shoulder injury. According to on-site observations, the injury caused him pain and prevented him from continuing with the training program. For a goalkeeper, the shoulders are their most important "weapon," and experiencing this problem so close to a match is an extremely alarming sign.

Coach Kim Sang Sik and the medical team are closely monitoring Nguyen Tan's condition. However, if his recovery speed doesn't keep up with the demanding intensity of the U23 Asian Championship, the South Korean strategist will have to make a painful personnel change.

Personnel issues according to AFC regulations

The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) regulations are very strict: Each team participating in the tournament must register a minimum of 3 goalkeepers in their official 23-man squad. This puts Coach Kim in a dilemma. If he keeps Nguyen Tan in the hope that he will recover in time, the Vietnam U23 team will face the risk of a personnel shortage if the injury recurs. Conversely, dropping him would be a loss of experience and morale for the team.

In the worst-case scenario, if Nguyen Tan is unable to travel to Saudi Arabia with the team, the name most frequently mentioned as a replacement is Pham Dinh Hai. The 19-year-old goalkeeper, currently playing for Hanoi FC, has shown incredible potential despite his young age. Dinh Hai is considered the most viable option to fill the void thanks to his quick reflexes and impressive height, although his international experience remains a big question mark.

Final rehearsal and shortlist

On the evening of December 30th, the Vietnam U23 team played an internal friendly match against the Syria U23 team, serving as a "dress rehearsal." Despite their efforts to implement the playing style as envisioned by coach Kim Sang Sik, our team had to accept a narrow 1-2 defeat.

However, in youth football, the result of a friendly match doesn't tell the whole story. This is the last chance for Coach Kim to assess the players' form, test backup options for the goalkeeper position, and finalize the list of the 23 best players.

Following this defeat, the entire team will hold important tactical meetings to learn from their mistakes before officially traveling to Saudi Arabia. The final roster will be announced soon, and fans are holding their breath waiting to see if Nguyen Tan can work a miracle and make it into the team.

The journey at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship will undoubtedly be full of challenges, but with the resilience of the Vietnamese people, hopefully coach Kim Sang Sik will soon find a solution to the goalkeeping problem to steer the Vietnam U23 team further.

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