A pleasant surprise for the Vietnam U17 team.

The Vietnam U17 team surprised many by topping Group C after the group stage of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship.

From winning the 2026 Southeast Asian Championship to reaching the quarterfinals of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship, the Vietnam U17 team is showcasing a generation of young players who are confident in their ball control, willing to compete, and unafraid of strong opponents.

Growing stronger with each match.

Coach Cristiano Roland's team is showing increasing confidence, is becoming more and more organized, and most importantly, dares to play against strong opponents.

The Vietnamese U17 team's journey in the group stage of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship impressed with their mature playing style. While the Vietnamese team didn't possess superior physique or strength, they compensated with their ability to maintain good team formation, quick transitions, stable fighting spirit, and especially their confidence in possession of the ball.

The most positive aspect of the Vietnam U17 team is their footballing mindset. Many previous generations of Vietnamese football players often chose to sit deep and "take the blows," while the current U17 team is ready to apply pressure across the entire field, both in attack and defense.

Another highlight of the Vietnam U17 team is their ability to coordinate in small groups and build play from the back, along with diverse and flexible attacks, sometimes down the flanks, sometimes straight through the center. From there, the Vietnamese team can create scoring opportunities in many situations: quick transitions, central combinations, long-range shots, and even from set pieces.

Coach Cristiano Roland has repeatedly emphasized that the most important thing for the Vietnam U17 team is not just the results, but the growth of the players after each match.

Fans are hoping that Vietnam U17 will overcome Australia U17 on May 17th. Photo: AFC

Unwavering resolve

In the group stage, the Vietnam U17 team didn't win thanks to random moments or luck, but rather through tactical discipline and the ability to adapt to each opponent.

At times, the Vietnam U17 team adopted a very low defensive formation, but at other times they pushed their formation forward to apply pressure. More importantly, the young Vietnamese players showed they were not overwhelmed by the intensity of high-level Asian football. This gave fans the feeling that this was a team with real fighting spirit.

A noteworthy detail is that in late April 2026, the Vietnam U17 team defeated Australia U17 2-1 in the semi-finals of the Southeast Asian U17 Championship after trailing 0-1. That victory not only demonstrated the Vietnamese youth team's ability to come from behind and their strong mentality, but also instilled great confidence before the rematch in the continental tournament. Following their victory over Australia in the semi-finals, Vietnam U17 went on to defeat Malaysia in the final to become Southeast Asian champions.

While the Vietnamese youth team represented a fluid and organized style of play, the Australian U17 team embodied a more direct, aggressive pressing style, constantly applying pressure with their speed. In the group stage, the Australian U17 team convincingly defeated the Indian U17 team 4-0. In that match, Australia showcased their incredibly fast acceleration, wing attacks, second ball plays, and continuous pressure in the penalty area.

Unlike the U17 teams of Japan or South Korea – who can change the tempo with technique and ball control – the U17 Australian team usually solves problems with intensity and power. This makes the Australian team very dangerous but sometimes also makes them predictable.

Reuniting with an "old friend"

Vietnam U17 will face Australia U17 in the quarter-finals of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship at 0:00 on May 17th - Vietnam time. The clash between the Vietnamese and Australian youth teams will be a match of two contrasting tactical approaches.

Vietnam U17 defeated Australia U17 in the Southeast Asian tournament a few weeks ago.

The Australian U17 team will likely want to push the pace of the game, applying pressure from the start and utilizing their physical strength and aerial abilities. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese U17 team's playing style will focus on maintaining their formation, escaping opponent pressure with short passes, and minimizing turnovers in midfield.

The key to the match lies in the Vietnamese U17 team's ability to withstand pressure. If the Australian U17 team scores early, the game will be extremely difficult because they are very strong when playing from a lead. But if the Vietnamese youth team can maintain balance in the first 60 minutes, the psychological pressure could shift back to Australia.

Although strong, the Australian U17 team is not invincible. Their defeat against Uzbekistan showed that when forced into a game requiring patience and tight space, Australia is not absolutely superior. This could be an opening for the Vietnamese U17 team to hope for through quick counter-attacks.

Overall, the Australian team was still considered superior due to their physical fitness, intensity, experience, and ability to apply constant pressure. However, the Vietnamese U17 team displayed well-organized tactics, strong mentality, quick transitions, and confidence on the pitch.

The victory against the Australian U17 team in the Southeast Asian tournament a few weeks ago has further boosted the confidence of the young Vietnamese players, demonstrating their ability to compete on equal terms. If the Vietnamese U17 team maintains composure, defends well against aerial balls, and has sufficient stamina for the final 20 minutes, opportunities will arise. While Vietnam may not have more possession, they are perfectly capable of keeping the Australian U17 team on edge until the very last minutes of the match.

Up to this point, the journey of the Vietnam U17 team has shown that our country's youth football possesses a generation that not only knows how to dream but also dares to play and compete with strong teams from across the continent.

Watch EXCLUSIVE

The AFC U17 Men's Championship, from May 5th to May 23rd, on TV360 at https://tv360.vn. Enjoy a smooth multi-platform experience, rewind and replay, with free Viettel 4G/5G data.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/ngac-nhien-den-thu-vi-voi-u17-viet-nam-196260514191249389.htm