Japanese media wrote effusively about the Vietnamese U23 team, while criticizing South Korea for lacking clear tactical direction.

According to Japanese media, South Korea's U23 team's defeat to Vietnam's U23 team in the third-place match of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship was not only a shock in terms of the result, but also a 'historic wake-up call' for a footballing nation once considered a leading force in the continent.

In its commentary early on January 24th, Yahoo News Japan called the third-place match result "unbelievable to the point of being inexcusable," especially considering that the South Korean U23 team was not only considered the stronger side but also played with a man advantage in the final minutes. According to the Japanese news outlet, failing to defeat the Vietnamese U23 team under such circumstances was "very difficult to accept" for a team once considered the benchmark of youth football in Asia.

Vietnam U23's victory is being analyzed in detail.

What caught the attention of the Japanese media wasn't the penalty shootout, but the way the match unfolded over 120 minutes. Soccer Digest commented: "Vietnam U23 showed clear and consistent tactical preparation, while South Korea U23 lacked stability, especially in their ability to control the game. South Korea U23 had more possession, but Vietnam U23 controlled the tempo."

Korean media acknowledges that coach Kim Sang-sik won the tactical battle against coach Lee Min-ung.

Japanese media also noted that the Vietnamese U23 team did not approach the match with a passive defensive mindset, but rather actively contested the ball, maintained a reasonable formation, and effectively exploited the gaps left by the South Korean U23 team. Meanwhile, the South Korean U23 team's attacking plays were criticized for lacking cohesion, relying heavily on individual plays rather than clear tactical patterns.

Khuat Van Khang and his teammates with their precious bronze medal.

Vietnam U23 delivered an outstanding performance in their final match at the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.

PHOTO: AFC

One detail highlighted by Japanese media was how the South Korean U23 team reacted to turning points in the match. Yahoo Japan News emphasized: “After VAR overturned a penalty in the first half, the team started playing more impatiently. This was the moment when the South Korean U23 team lost their balance, while the Vietnamese U23 team maintained the necessary focus. The inability to turn the tide in the first half is seen as the first psychological setback for the young South Korean team.”

In the second half, despite scoring the equalizer, the South Korean U23 team failed to maintain consistent pressure. Their attacks lacked cohesion, often ending prematurely or being easily neutralized. Meanwhile, the Vietnamese U23 team demonstrated effective opportunism – a factor that is increasingly becoming a strength of the Southeast Asian representatives.”

Even when Vietnam U23 were down to 10 men at the end of the match, Japanese media still didn't see a clear superiority from South Korea U23. The equalizer in injury time was described as "prolonging hope," but it wasn't enough to hide the fact that South Korea U23 struggled to impose their game, despite having a numerical advantage.

In extra time, the difference remained elusive. Yahoo Japan News noted that South Korea lacked a clear attacking strategy, while Vietnam's U23 team defended in an organized and disciplined manner. The fact that the match had to be decided by a penalty shootout was seen by the Japanese news outlet as a disadvantage for the team under more pressure – and South Korea's U23 team failed to overcome that.

A well-deserved victory for Vietnam U23 (left)

PHOTO: AFC

Ultimately, Japanese media viewed this result as part of a worrying trend. “South Korea’s U23 team has failed to finish in the top 3 for three consecutive U23 Asian Championships, while regional rivals, including Vietnam’s U23 team, have shown clear stability and progress. The gap, once considered obvious, is narrowing faster than expected,” commented Soccer Digest .

"The way the Vietnam U23 team has maintained its performance in continental competitions for many years, from runner-up in 2018 to third place in this tournament, shows that the Vietnam U23 team is no longer a team that surprises with its spirit, but has demonstrated genuine competitiveness," Soccer Digest concluded.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/truyen-thong-nhat-ban-viet-qua-hay-ve-u23-viet-nam-che-han-quoc-thieu-mang-mieng-ro-rang-185260124034735272.htm