Indonesian newspaper worries that the home team will lose to U23 Vietnam again at SEA Games 33

(Dan Tri) - After U23 Indonesia lost to U23 Vietnam in the final match of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 tournament on July 29, the media in the archipelago country was worried that their young team would lose to us again at the 33rd SEA Games.

The 33rd SEA Games will take place in December this year in Thailand. Indonesia U23 is the defending champion of this tournament. However, they are still worried about being dethroned by the host team Thailand U23 and especially Vietnam U23.

CNN Indonesia said: "After winning the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 tournament, coach Kim Sang Sik of Vietnam U23 is determined to help his team become the champion of the men's football event of the 33rd SEA Games later this year."

U23 Vietnam may reunite with U23 Indonesia at SEA Games 33 (Photo: VFF).

"Mr. Kim Sang Sik wants to make things difficult for U23 Indonesia once again at the Southeast Asian Games ," CNN Indonesia added.

A notable detail surrounding the match between U23 Vietnam and U23 Indonesia is that, in the 3 consecutive times U23 Vietnam won the U23 Southeast Asian Championship in 2022, 2023 and 2025, we defeated U.23 Indonesia twice in the final match.

The first time was in 2023, under coach Hoang Anh Tuan. The second time was in 2025, under coach Kim Sang Sik.

Previously, U23 Indonesia defeated U23 Vietnam once in the semi-final of the men's football event of the 32nd SEA Games, which took place in May 2023, in Cambodia. However, that was the period when Vietnamese football was in crisis under coach Philippe Troussier (French).

Coach Kim Sang Sik's U23 Vietnam team could be even stronger at SEA Games 33 (Photo: VFF).

Currently, Vietnamese football has stabilized under coach Kim Sang Sik. This is the reason why Indonesian media is afraid that the U23 team of the archipelago will lose to U23 Vietnam at the SEA Games.

CNN Indonesia quoted coach Kim Sang Sik, as a way to warn their team: "I am very happy that U23 Vietnam successfully defended the U23 Southeast Asian championship. This is the third consecutive time that Vietnamese football has won this tournament."

“We will continue to improve. I will do my best to help the U23 Vietnam team win at the 33rd SEA Games in December this year. This is an extremely important SEA Games for Vietnamese football,” said coach Kim Sang Sik, as quoted by CNN Indonesia.

In theory, U23 Indonesia can become stronger at SEA Games 33, if they add naturalized players such as center back Justin Hubner, center midfielder Ivar Jenner, center forward Rafael Struick, and organizing midfielder Marselino Ferdinan.

However, U23 Vietnam can also change and become stronger than it is now, if a series of new overseas Vietnamese players joining the V-League play well, are successfully naturalized and compete in the SEA Games in December.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/bao-indonesia-lo-ngai-doi-nha-lai-thua-u23-viet-nam-tai-sea-games-33-20250805154946844.htm