HA NOI (VNS)– The Viet Nam Football Federation (VFF) announced a draft list of 50 players who will prepare for the qualifier of the 2015 Asian Cup yesterday.

The list includes seven strikers, 18 midfielders, 18 defenders and seven goalkeepers, with many familiar names who have been key elements of the national team for years: three-time Golden Ball winner and forward Le Cong Vinh, goalies Nguyen Thanh Binh and Nguyen Tan Truong, defenders Nguyen Gia Tu, Nguyen Minh Duc and Tran Dinh Dong and midfielders Pham Thanh Luong, Nguyen Van Quyet and Nguyen Trong Hoang.

The VFF also drafted veteran players who displayed their talents in the last V-League season such as defender Tran Chi Cong, Nguyen Hoang Quang and Huynh Quang Thanh as well as midfielder Mai Tien Thanh and striker Nguyen Anh Duc.

Following their plan to rejuvenate the team, VFF gave 29 young players (both members of the national under-22 squad and various local clubs) the chance to shine.

The list will be narrowed to 23 players during the coming training courses. The first summon will start on January 23 in Ha Noi.

In the first match Viet Nam will play the United Arab Emirates on their home turf of My Dinh Stadium on February 6.

The second match will be against Hong Kong on March 22.

To prepare, the squad will warm up at a friendly match with the South Korean Hyundai Mipo Dolphins at Hang Day Stadium on January 31. – VNS