Viet Nam are training in preparation for the match against Olympiacos next month.

The newcomers include two players who have only just gained Vietnamese nationality: goalkeeper Dinh Hoang La and halfback Dinh Hoang Max. Both have been playing successfully in Viet Nam for local clubs.

The biggest surprise however was when coach Henrique Calisto did not call up goalie Duong Hong Son who won the 2008 Golden Ball award. Instead, Hoang La, Bui Tan Truong and Dau Ngoc Tan are likely to step on to the pitch for the friendly encounters.

“I did not call up Son because I want to give other players a chance to show off their skills,” Calisto said. “The match with Olympiacos is a friendly and it is an opportunity to test my future lineup.”

At Ninh Binh, La has kept his net safe for 540 straight minutes. He has let in only two goals after ten rounds, one of them in a penalty shootout.

La puts his goal keeping success down to playing on sand when in the Ukraine, which he said sharpened his reflexes.

La, who stands 1.94m, was incredulous when he was called up. He said it was a dream come true.

His roommate and teammate at Ninh Binh, was equally delighted to be called up into the national squad.

“I will score a goal in Greece’s net if Calisto gives me a chance to play. I will score in many other matches in the future,” Max said.

Goalkeeper Ngoc Tan was also in shock when he heard the news. Still in his early 20s, Calisto has high hopes for his latest find.

Up front will be strikers Le Cong Vinh, Nguyen Viet Thang, Nguyen Quang Hai and Phan Thanh Binh – despite concerns about their poor recent performances in the V-League.

Vinh has scored only four goals in 10 matches, Thang has scored three, while Binh and Hai have scored just one each.

However, Calisto has attributed their poor goal-scoring records to poor support from halfbacks.

Out of the squad are some key players for Becamex Binh Duong and Ha Noi ACB who will be playing in the Asian Football Confederation Cup.

Their absence will cause problems for Calisto in his halfback lineup. Instead, he will have to trust to Nguyen Trong Hoang of Song Lam NgheAn, Vu Anh Tuan of Dong Thap, Da Nang’s Phan Thanh Hung, Hoang Max and, in particular, Tran Duy Quang of Hoang Anh Gia Lai.

“Duy Quang is an experienced player who has performed solidly. I know him very well so I decided to call him up for this match,” Calisto said.

The friendly will kick off on May 14 at Ha Noi’s My Dinh National Stadium at 7pm.

Olympiacos will arrive in Viet Nam two days earlier to acclimatise to the weather and familiarise themselves with the pitch.

Match information and tickets can be obtained by visiting www.olympiacos.com.vn.

VietNamNet/VNS