Korean media reports: 'China is the toughest challenge for Vietnam U23 team'

Korean media outlets have published noteworthy analyses ahead of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship semi-final match between Vietnam U23 and China U23, scheduled for January 20th.

Vietnam U23 faces China in the semi-finals. Photo: AF C

Sports Seoul noted that the Chinese U23 team possesses a solid defense, having conceded only one goal in four matches and having just eliminated Uzbekistan on penalties. "This is predicted to be the toughest challenge for the Vietnamese U23 team since the start of the tournament," the South Korean newspaper assessed.

The most outstanding player for the Chinese U23 team is goalkeeper Li Hao, who previously played for Atletico Madrid's youth team and kept a clean sheet in all four matches at this year's AFC U23 Asian Championship. In the group stage alone, he made 16 saves, the highest number in the tournament.

Despite acknowledging the strength of the Chinese U23 team, Sports Seoul still believes that the Vietnamese U23 team is undergoing an extraordinary journey, far exceeding all initial predictions from experts.

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A large number of defenders is a strong point of the Chinese U23 team. Photo: AFC

"Vietnam U23 became the only team to win all four matches in the tournament. Even Asian football giants like Japan or South Korea couldn't achieve this. Japan, despite winning three matches in the group stage, had to advance through a penalty shootout in the quarterfinals, which, according to the tournament regulations, counts as a draw," commented Sports Seoul .

In terms of FIFA rankings, the Vietnamese national team is currently ranked 107th in the world , lower than all the opponents they defeated in the tournament. While this ranking doesn't fully reflect the capabilities of the youth teams, given their current international standing, the journey of the U23 Vietnamese team has clearly exceeded all initial predictions.

Before arriving in Saudi Arabia, coach Kim Sang-sik had led Vietnamese football to dominate Southeast Asia with a hat-trick of titles including the ASEAN Cup, the U23 Southeast Asian Championship, and the 33rd SEA Games. Now, he has the opportunity to lead the U23 Vietnamese team beyond familiar limits and closer to the pinnacle of continental football.

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Source: https://znews.vn/bao-han-trung-quoc-la-thu-thach-kho-nhat-cua-u23-viet-nam-post1620894.html