Vietnamese players are making last-minute preparations for their 2021 Futsal World Cup campaign in Lithuania.    

NDO – Vietnam head coach Pham Minh Giang has named his 16-man roster for the 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup campaign in Lithuania, with four 2016 World Cup participants namely Tran Van Vu, Nguyen Minh Tri, Le Duc Nam and Pham Duc Hoa.

> Vietnam drawn against five-time champions Brazil in FIFA Futsal World Cup 2021

> What opportunities await Vietnam at FIFA Futsal World Cup 2021?

Giang has prepared three choices for the goleiro (goalkeeper) position, including Ho Van Y, Nguyen Hoang Anh and Mai Xuan Hiep, while the fixo (defender) lineup features veterans Tran Van Vu and Pham Duc Hoa, alongside promising names Khong Dinh Hung, Nguyen Thanh Tin, Nhan Gia Hung, and Nguyen Van Hieu.

Vietnam’s attacking spearheads will be pivots (forwards) Nguyen Minh Tri, Nguyen Dac Huy, and Vu Duc Tung, with the support from alas (midfielders) Le Quoc Nam, Chau Doan Phat, Nguyen Anh Quy, and Nguyen Anh Duy.

Giang’s troops will kick-start their 2021 World Cup campaign with an opening Group match against five-time champions Brazil on September 13 (local time).

Coach Marquinhos Xavier recently announced an extremely powerful squad for the goal of seeking their sixth World Cup title in history. Of the 16 Brazilians, only four are aged below 30 and many are playing in Europe as well as for leading clubs at home. The most impressive name is 30-year-old pivot Carlos Vagner Gularte Filho, also known as Ferrao, who is playing for the Barcelona futsal club in Spain.

As a powerhouse in the sport, it is almost certain that Brazil will capture one of Group D’s two qualification slots in the knockout round. Vietnam, the Czech Republic and Panama will battle it out for the remaining slot. Giang’s side are expected to take on Panama and the Czech Republic on September 16 and 19, respectively.

Brazil are eyeing to win their sixth Futsal World Cup title in history.

In the build-up to the World Cup campaign, Vietnam had an overseas training camp in Spain and played four international friendly games losing 0-1 to Japan, 0-4 to Spain, and 1-2 to Morocco, and drawing 2-2 with Spanish club Codorba.

This is the second consecutive time Vietnam have qualified for the Futsal World Cup. In their debut at the World Cup 2016 in Colombia, the Southeast Asian side made it through to the knockout stages as one of the four best third-placed teams.

The 2021 FIFA Futsal World Cup will be hosted by Lithuania from September 12 to October 3, with the participation of 24 teams, drawn in six groups of four. The group stage will be played in a round robin format to determine the top two teams in each group and the four best third-placed teams for the round of 16.

To be played across three venues, the Futsal World Cup 2021 will see Iran, Japan, Uzbekistan, Thailand and Vietnam carrying Asia’s challenge.

“Vietnam will make up for their inexperience with fighting spirit when they appear in their second FIFA Futsal World Cup,” the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) said on its website on September 11.

Vietnam are determined to prove a point in Lithuania 2021 with the target of bettering their 2016 achievement of reaching the Round of 16, it said, emphasizing that the opening fixture against five-time champions Brazil will be a litmus test for Pham Minh Giang’s troops.