Vietnamese footballer Bui Tien Dung is heading to the World Cup.
Dung, the goalkeeper whose penalty saves took Vietnam’s U-23 football team to the AFC Championship this January, will present the Man of the Match award following tonight's England versus Croatia semifinal in Moscow, according to Tuoi Tre.
He will watch the match from the Luzhniki Stadium VIP section along with fellow U-23 ace Ha Duc Chinh and famed striker Le Cong Vinh, Vietnam's all-time top scorer.
The athletes aren't the only Vietnamese to catch media attention at this year's tournament. Two weeks ago, Tran Hop, a 95-year-old native of Ha Tinh Province, traveled to Moscow to visit family and watch Portugal play Morocco in the group stage. He made headlines for being the oldest Vietnamese fan at the World Cup.
Dung, for his part, has seen his star rise since his U-23 trip to the AFC Final. This spring, he picked up a few million Facebook followers and also took part in a fashion show in Saigon.
He will resume goalkeeping duties for FLC Thanh Hoa F.C. upon his return to Vietnam. Local football fans are likely pleased that Dung, who is 21, will have another shot at the AFC Cup this upcoming season before he becomes too old for play for the U-23 team.
England and Croatia face off at 1am local time.
[Photo via soha.vn]
