Asian newspaper speaks frankly about the biggest weakness of U23 Vietnam

(Dan Tri) - In an analysis of the 4 teams that reached the semi-finals of the U23 Southeast Asian tournament, ESPN looked straight at the remaining problems of U23 Vietnam.

Ahead of the semi-finals of the U23 Southeast Asian Championship, ESPN published an article analyzing the weaknesses of four teams: U23 Vietnam, U23 Thailand, U23 Indonesia and U23 Philippines. In it, author Gabriel Tan said that U23 Vietnam is lacking a star who knows how to create breakthroughs.

U23 Vietnam lacks players who know how to shine at key moments (Photo: VFF).

This newspaper commented on U23 Vietnam: “U23 Vietnam is the champion of the last two U23 Southeast Asian tournaments. In addition, the Vietnamese team has just won the AFF Cup 2024. It is not surprising that Vietnamese football is considered the leading force in Southeast Asia today.

However, Indonesia also has reasons to affirm its position as the only representative in Southeast Asia to enter the 4th qualifying round of the 2026 World Cup in Asia and still has a chance to win a ticket to the final round.

However, if we exclude naturalized players from Indonesia or Malaysia, it can be said that no team in Southeast Asia currently presents as many outstanding domestic talents as Vietnam.

At this U23 Southeast Asian tournament, Vietnam's squad includes two members from the national team that just won the AFF Cup, midfielder Khuat Van Khang and goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien.

Young striker Nguyen Dinh Bac, along with midfielders Nguyen Van Truong and Nguyen Thai Son, have all participated in the continental tournament, the 2023 Asian Cup. Meanwhile, striker Nguyen Quoc Viet is aiming for his third consecutive Southeast Asian U23 title, after winning both the 2022 and 2023 tournaments.

U23 Vietnam not only possesses a talented group of young players but also impresses with their continuous and systematic development. They regularly promote young players to play in higher-level teams, creating a legacy, accumulating competitive spirit and battle experience at all levels of the team.

However, the biggest weakness of U23 Vietnam at present is the lack of a real star who can make a difference at the crucial moment, something they had in previous years in players like Nguyen Cong Phuong or Nguyen Quang Hai.

Of the 5 goals scored by U23 Vietnam in the group stage, 3 came from set pieces, scored by two central defenders Nguyen Hieu Minh and Pham Ly Duc. This shows that Vietnam's attack still has a lot to improve if it wants to go further.

U23 Philippines is still quite inexperienced (Photo: PFF)

Commenting on U23 Philippines, author Gabriel Tan wrote: “U23 Philippines is the most surprising name in the semi-finals. They are bringing a new breeze to this year's tournament.

One of the key players in the team’s journey has been Javier Mariona. Starting the season as a winger, he has become the heart of the midfield with his creativity and competitive nature. Meanwhile, captain Gavin Muens has been pivotal in defending the defence.

However, their most outstanding player is probably goalkeeper Nicholas Guimaraes, who plays in Japan. He is always a reliable stopper in every match but that also indirectly shows that the Philippine defense is not completely solid.

Now, fans are waiting for the Philippines' performance when facing a formidable opponent like U23 Vietnam.

It is an undeniable fact that the Philippine national championship has not yet reached the level of other countries in the region. This means that their players do not have many opportunities to compete in a top environment to accumulate real-life experience.

Most of the U23 Philippines players are playing together in the Philippine YNT team (the U23 team is playing in the national championship), so they have good understanding and cohesion. However, they lack the support of experienced teammates or high-class foreign players.

However, over the past decade, Philippine football has repeatedly shown that they are not afraid of any challenge. They are ready to enter a fierce battle with U23 Vietnam."

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/bao-chau-a-noi-thang-diem-yeu-lon-nhat-cua-u23-viet-nam-20250725131408717.htm