Coach Kim learned a valuable lesson about team formation for the Vietnam U.23 team.
Many fans were genuinely excited again after watching the Vietnam U23 team overcome another "giant," South Korea, in the third-place match. It was exactly like how Coach Kim Sang-sik's team fought tenaciously in all four matches from the group stage to the quarterfinals, rising spectacularly to the top. That style of play truly suits Vietnamese players, where willpower and fighting spirit are forged by exceptional physical fitness and resilience, combined with a persistent and effective strategy of knowing their strengths and weaknesses.
In a rare start, Quoc Viet scored the opening goal.
PHOTO: VFF
The 0-3 defeat against China in the semi-finals also highlighted that, no matter how much effort and hard work is put in, it's impossible to maintain the stamina of a team constantly battling through match after match. The Vietnamese players were almost completely exhausted after their 120-minute victory against the UAE, yet 10 out of 11 players still featured in the starting lineup against China. Meanwhile, the opponent replaced more than half their team, using their best players to overwhelm our weary squad.
New and energetic players like Quoc Cuong joined the team and competed fiercely with South Korea.
PHOTO: TED TRAN
Coach Kim immediately applied that lesson in the third-place match when we replaced nine key players, bringing in entirely new talent and only retaining midfielder Thai Son and center-back Nhat Minh. Of course, some positions had to be replaced due to injury, such as Hieu Minh's injury or Ly Duc's suspension, but this bold adjustment proved effective when facing a team as physically strong and tall as South Korea. Many of our players in red jerseys competed fiercely, not allowing the opponent to overwhelm them, creating an image of not being outmatched at all.
New players like Quoc Viet, Anh Quan, Duc Anh, Van Ha, Phi Hoang, and Quoc Cuong, without any prompting, showed great energy, running hard and relentlessly pressing, helping to frustrate the opponent and giving us the upper hand. And when they were exhausted after the first half and the beginning of the second half battling the Koreans, Coach Kim immediately made adjustments, bringing in Van Khang, Xuan Bac, Ngoc My, Cong Phuong, and Thanh Nhan to ensure the team's stamina while preventing large gaps for the opponent to exploit. Even after losing a player from the end of the second half until the entire extra time period due to Dinh Bac's red card, the U23 Vietnam team remained resilient, consistently neutralizing every move and providing reassurance to the fans. In other words, they stood firm in an extraordinary way.
Dinh Bac scored a beautiful goal from a free kick.
PHOTO: VFF
Had it not been for Dinh Bac's red card for being too eager to get the ball, we might not have struggled to make it to 120 minutes and could have secured a proud victory. The number 7 of the Vietnam U23 team was the turning point of this exciting match. He both assisted Vietnam's first goal and scored the goal himself, putting Vietnam 2-1 ahead and creating a great opportunity. Dinh Bac truly brought a fresh perspective to the Vietnam U23 team's attacking play, inspiring everyone to unite and achieve a spectacular victory.
Goalkeeper Cao Văn Bình left a good impression.
PHOTO: VFF
The U.23 Vietnam team's penalty shootout lineup was excellent.
In 2018, during the U23 Asian Championship finals, when selecting the penalty shootout lineup against Iraq and Qatar, Coach Park Hang-seo typically chose a fixed group of four players: Quang Hai, Xuan Truong, Vu Van Thanh, and Ha Duc Chinh, supplementing them mainly with Bui Tien Dung and Phan Van Duc. This lineup also made its mark, helping Vietnam take the lead twice and later achieving success at the national level in the 2019 Asian Cup finals, where they brilliantly defeated Jordan.
But perhaps the penalty shootout lineup that Coach Kim fielded in the victory against South Korea was truly perfect. Everyone was calm and composed, taking decisive shots. From the first penalty taker, captain Khuất Văn Khang, to Minh Phúc, Quốc Cường, Ngọc Mỹ, and especially Nhật Minh, who took the fifth penalty, all were very composed when stepping up to the 11-meter mark. Even the players who took subsequent penalties, like Xuân Bắc and Thanh Nhàn, demonstrated their class, showing no anxiety or immense pressure, and ultimately they succeeded.
Thanh Nhàn's joy after scoring the decisive penalty kick against South Korea, helping Vietnam U23 win the bronze medal.
PHOTO: VFF
Congratulations to the Vietnam U23 team for deservedly securing third place in the continental tournament. From here, Vietnamese football has a solid foundation, capable of stepping onto the world stage by conquering the increasingly diverse competitions available at the youth level.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chien-thang-cuc-ky-qua-cam-va-ban-linh-cua-u23-viet-nam-the-luc-moi-cua-bong-da-chau-a-185260124022416164.htm
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