Avoid complacency, and the Vietnam U23 team will advance.

A convincing victory against U23 Jordan helped U23 Vietnam secure the top spot in Group A of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, opening up a great opportunity to qualify for the quarterfinals.

It is at this moment that warnings from opponents become especially necessary. On the continental stage, even a moment of complacency can cost you dearly.

Timely warnings

Coach Omar Najhi of the Jordan U23 team stated that "winning the match doesn't guarantee Vietnam U23 will advance from the group stage" which might be upsetting to us. However, that's the harsh reality of continental competitions where the situation can change after just one match.

Kyrgyzstan U23 coach Edmar Lacerda also publicly declared the goal of "having to beat Vietnam U23" because after the 0-1 defeat against host Saudi Arabia, the Central Asian team cannot turn back. This desperate situation will make Kyrgyzstan U23 an extremely dangerous opponent.

In fact, the opening day defeat didn't necessarily reflect the weakness of the Kyrgyzstan U23 team. On the contrary, they defended tenaciously, holding their ground until the 88th minute before conceding a goal, even while playing with only 10 men. Goalkeeper Nurlanbekov made an excellent penalty save, while other players like Almazbekov and Merk showed good technique, confidence, and the ability to control the tempo of the game. That's why even the host nation Saudi Arabia's coach, Luigi Di Biagio, had to admit that Kyrgyzstan U23 was a "very tough" opponent.

The above facts are sufficient proof that if the Vietnam U23 team enters tonight's match at 9 PM (Vietnam time) (January 9th) with a complacent attitude, they could easily fall into the familiar psychological trap of youth football – easily soaring but also quickly collapsing. Remember, the nature of youth teams is always to lack stability. Therefore, emotional management is crucial. The bitter lesson of the Vietnam U20 team at the 2023 AFC U20 Championship, winning two matches but still being eliminated due to a moment of complacency in the final match, remains relevant for many key players of the current Vietnam U23 team. Therefore, the Vietnam U23 team must immediately "come back down to earth" after the victory against Jordan.

Stay alert to advance to the quarterfinals early.

In theory, the Vietnam U23 team has a significant advantage. Three points with a good goal difference (+2) and high morale mean that coach Kim Sang-sik's team only needs one more win to secure a place in the quarterfinals. However, this advantage will only be effective if it is coupled with composure and tactical discipline.

The Kyrgyzstan U23 team possesses strong physical attributes (average height of 179.65 cm compared to Vietnam U23's 177.39 cm). Their physical fitness, ability to withstand pressure, and organizational discipline are also excellent. They are a mature team, having previously topped Group E despite competing against Uzbekistan U23 in the qualifiers. Despite participating in the Asian Championship finals for the first time, they played confidently against title contender Saudi Arabia in their opening match.