The national team held its first training session at Thanh Long Sports Centre yesterday morning, June 16, to prepare for the first round of the 2014 World qualifying campaign.

Players are actively involved in training under the guidance of German new head coach Falko Goetz and his assistants Mai Duc Chung, Hoang Van Gia, Nguyen Duc Canh and Trieu Quang Ha.

The team welcomed the return of midfielder Nguyen Ngoc Thanh, who is playing for SHB Da Nang.

New faces include striker Nguyen Ngoc Anh of Song Lam Nghe An and goalkeeper Nguyen Thanh Binh from SHB Da Nang, who replaced veteran Duong Hong Son.

“Players trained very seriously,but I need more time to work with them,” Falko Goetz told the press after the training session.

“I’m very happy to be with the team and now I will try my best and give all my passion for football,” Anh, who was asked to work for the national team for the first time.

Goetz, who signed a two-year contract early this month, will take charge of the team in his first competitive game against Macau.

Viet Nam will take on Macau on the first leg on June 29 at Thong Nhat Stadium and play away at Maucau four days later.

If the team gets past Macau, it will meet Qatar in the second round.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News