Fox Sports: Vietnam goalkeeper one to watch at Asian Cup

Fox Sports experts think Dang Van Lam is one of the goalkeepers to look out for in football’s Asian Cup starting this week.

Lam saves a shot in the second leg of the 2018 AFF Cup semifinal against the Philippines. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Dong

They said his importance should not be underestimated to the Vietnamese team though they have other stars like strikers Nguyen Quang Hai and Phan Van Duc.

Fox Sports said, "For the first time in a long while the Moscow-born custodian has provided Vietnam with an authoritative presence between the sticks and, while not one to try anything fancy, Van Lam does the basics well and will get an even bigger stage to shine on at the Asian Cup."

Other goalkeepers on the list are Alireza Beinranvand (Iran), Michael Falkesgaard (the Philippines), Jo Hyeon-woo (Republic of Korea) and Mathew Ryan (Australia).

At the 2018 AFF Cup, which Vietnam won, Dang Van Lam kept a clean sheet in the four games of the group stage, and only conceded four goals in the knockout rounds. He made a total of 17 saves in the tournament.

The 2019 AFC Asian Cup will be held in the UAE from January 5 to February 1. Australia are the defending champions, having won in 2015.

Vietnam, who are in group D, will first play Iraq on January 8 at the Zayed Sports City Stadium in Abu Dhabi at 8:30 p.m. (Hanoi time).

Vnexpress