The spirit of school-age children

(PLVN) - The U17 players, all still students, displayed the steely spirit of youth by coming from behind to defeat the UAE U17 team and top Group C at the 2026 Asian Championship. The resilience of the Vietnamese U17 team gives hope that they will maintain this form in the long term, not letting their hopes rise too high with praise, in order to conquer bigger stages – the 2026 World Cup.

The final match of Group C for the Vietnam U17 team truly became a tough test of the young players' courage. Only a victory against UAE would give Vietnam U17 a chance to advance and qualify for the World Cup.

The U17 players are all students, but they have shown the steely spirit of youth. (Source: FIFA)

After conceding an early goal, the young players, under the guidance of coach Cristiano Roland, calmly implemented their tactics, persevered with a modern football philosophy, and staged a spectacular comeback. The 3-2 scoreline reflects a breathtaking chase, but more importantly, it demonstrates the remarkable maturity in tactical thinking and the ability to withstand pressure shown by Coach Roland's players.

Immediately after the historic victory, the Brazilian coach affirmed that the World Cup qualification was not just a momentary joy but the result of a persistent effort: “I am truly proud of my players; they showed excellent form, especially how we bounced back after the mistakes in the previous match. In this tournament, there are no weak opponents, but today we proved we deserved to be the winners.”

The Brazilian strategist, who has worked with Vietnamese youth football for many years, expressed that each young player is a building block in a unified team, where solidarity overcomes physical barriers: “Individuals only shine when they are part of a cohesive group. The bond, like brothers in a family, has helped them maintain high intensity until the very last minute.” In particular, their mental fortitude after setbacks in previous matches defines the value of this generation of players. They understand that mistakes are part of football and, most importantly, how to react to overcome adversity,” Roland stated.

To prepare for the 2026 World Cup and subsequent major tournaments, Vietnamese football needs a detailed preparation plan and further improvements in all aspects, from physical fitness and nutrition to experience in matches against football powerhouses. We need to clash with strong football nations to grow.

This also marks the second year in FIFA's five-year cycle of organizing the U17 World Cup, from 2025 to 2029. The tournament format has also expanded from 24 to 48 teams in this cycle. Qatar has also become the first host nation in history to host five consecutive World Cups.

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/ban-linh-tuoi-hoc-tro.html