Every match is a final.

VHO - This afternoon, April 13th, in Surabaya (Indonesia), the Vietnam U17 team will begin their journey to conquer the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship with their opening match against Malaysia U17. With a fiercely competitive format, this year's tournament promises to be a major challenge for coach Cristiano Roland and his team.

Coach Cristiano Roland and his team will try to play each match to advance as far as possible.

In the tournament, the Vietnam U17 team is in the same group as the Malaysia U17, Indonesia U17, and Timor Leste U17 teams. According to the regulations, only the top three teams in each group and the best-performing second-place team qualify for the semi-finals. This means that every match is crucial, forcing teams to play with the highest level of concentration from the very first minute.

Speaking ahead of the opening match, coach Cristiano Roland frankly acknowledged: “This is a very difficult group with strong teams. However, the whole team always approaches it in its own way, which is to focus on tackling each game one at a time and trying our best. The opening match against Malaysia will be very challenging, but we treat each game like a final and fight with all our might.”

The philosophy of "every match is a final" not only demonstrates determination but also reflects the meticulous preparation of the coaching staff. Throughout the training process, the young players have been honed in both technical skills and competitive spirit, aiming for the best possible results in the tournament.

Besides the immediate tasks, Coach Cristiano Roland also shared his vision for the long-term development of Vietnamese youth football. According to him, the current generation of players, many of whom were born in 2010, have received thorough training from an early age and are clearly maturing. Notably, some players born in 2008 have had the opportunity to play in the V.League, even scoring goals, demonstrating the potential and positive prospects for the development of Vietnamese football.

The Brazilian strategist particularly emphasized teamwork. He affirmed that the Vietnam U17 team possesses many quality players capable of creating breakthroughs, but the most important factor remains cohesion and team spirit. This is the foundation for the team to perform consistently and compete fairly with strong opponents in the region.

Furthermore, the coaching staff also focused on psychological aspects. According to Coach Cristiano Roland, instilling confidence, maintaining focus, and believing in themselves will help the young players maximize their potential. Thorough preparation, both tactically and mentally, is expected to help the Vietnam U17 team have a successful opening match.

Looking further ahead, the coach born in 1976 affirmed that the team will approach the tournament with the highest level of determination. “We are not afraid of any opponent and will always play with courage. The goal is to go as far as possible in the tournaments we participate in and to compete for a World Cup qualification spot,” he emphasized.

With thorough preparation, unwavering fighting spirit, and a burning desire to excel, the Vietnam U17 team is ready to face the challenge. In a demanding tournament where every point is crucial, coach Cristiano Roland and his players understand that the path to glory can only be achieved through maximum effort.

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/moi-tran-dau-deu-la-chung-ket-219025.html