What did Indonesian newspapers say about the SEA Games 33 gold medal goal of U.23 Vietnam?

CNN Indonesia believes that U.23 Vietnam is the biggest rival of the country's youth team in their journey to defend the gold medal in men's football at the 33rd SEA Games taking place in Thailand this coming December.

U.23 Vietnam, led by coach Kim Sang-sik, cannot be underestimated.

"Coach Kim Sang-sik will be participating in the SEA Games for the first time. This 48-year-old Korean coach is cherishing the ambition to repeat the achievements of his predecessor and senior, Coach Park Hang-seo, who helped Vietnamese football quench its thirst for gold medals in men's football at the SEA Games, with the U.23 Vietnam team winning the title twice in 2019 and 2021 (playing in 2022)", CNN Indonesia said.

Will the U.23 Vietnam team (in white) take revenge on U.23 Indonesia and win back the gold medal in men's football at the 33rd SEA Games?

Photo: Ngoc Duong

CNN Indonesia also quoted coach Kim Sang-sik's statement from the Vietnamese press, saying: "The goal of U.23 Vietnam at the 33rd SEA Games is nothing other than to be determined to win back the gold medal in men's football. Every coach must aim for results. Achievement is really pressure, but it is also the motivation for us to move forward."

According to CNN Indonesia: "U.23 Indonesia is currently the defending SEA Games champion in men's football, after coach Indra Sjafri helped end a 32-year gold medal drought (in 2023 in Cambodia).

This coach has just returned to seek opportunities to protect his achievements. Indonesian football also focuses heavily on the upcoming SEA Games to regain confidence after the shock failure in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. However, competitors such as U.23 Vietnam or the host team Thailand are all extremely formidable and all bring to the tournament the strongest squad and the best coach to participate.

"Vietnam U23 could not defend the SEA Games men's football gold medal they had won twice before, winning only a consolation bronze medal at the 32nd SEA Games in Cambodia in 2023. They were painfully defeated by Indonesia U23 in the semi-finals (2-3 under coach Philippe Troussier). It is clear that this time, Vietnam U23, currently led by coach Kim Sang-sik, really wants to take revenge and regain what they lost," CNN Indonesia assessed the ambition of Vietnam U23.

Also according to CNN Indonesia, the competition for the gold medal in men's football at the upcoming 33rd SEA Games will be extremely fierce, with teams like the host U.23 Thailand looking for ways to add to their squad, including the possibility of bringing in British-born player Jude Soonsup-Bell (21 years old), who has just agreed to return to play for the Thai national team.

U.23 Vietnam also sent the strongest force, and may even have excellent overseas Vietnamese players who are qualified to attend SEA Games 33.

While U.23 Indonesia is no exception, coach Indra Sjafri has been given the green light to call up as many naturalized Dutch players as are of age to compete at the 33rd SEA Games, such as Adrian Wibowo, Mauro Zijlstra and Ivar Jenner.

The young team of the archipelago country also called other key players from the national team such as stars Muhammad Ferarri, Hokky Caraka or Marselino Ferdinan... to ensure the best ability to defend the gold medal.

In the men's football event of the 33rd SEA Games held in Thailand from December 3 to 18, U.23 Vietnam is in Group B with U.23 Malaysia and Laos. Group A is the host team U.23 Thailand along with Cambodia and Timor Leste. Group C has 4 teams, including the defending champion U.23 Indonesia, Myanmar, Philippines and Singapore.

The teams compete in a round-robin format, with the top three teams in each group and the best second-place team advancing to the semi-finals.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bao-indonesia-noi-gi-ve-muc-tieu-hcv-sea-games-33-cua-u23-viet-nam-185251103094041244.htm