The upcoming 32nd Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 32) next month is said to be a “springboard” for the Vietnamese women’s football team on their journey to the prestigious 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in July, and offers a good chance to better the quality of the team’s defence.

The 26 players joining the training in Japan from April 17 – 30 have been revealed, with two firsttimers Ho Thi Thanh Thao and Tran Thi Thuy Nga.

Nga is highly valued for the position of a central defender because of her height and experience, while Thao is often arranged as defender on the right-back.

It was a big surprise when head coach Mai Duc Chung decided to choose the two new players to join the national team in the training in Japan because he usually favours experienced ones in the national team and gives them the opportunity to play in friendly matches before considering them for the official squad.

However, to carefully prepare for SEA Games 32, the 72-year-old coach is forced to consider backup plans for the worst-case scenario.

The training in Japan and the SEA Games 32 are seen as the necessary rehearsals for the team to prepare for the biggest women’s football event in the planet./.

Source: Vietnam News Agency