Vietnam U.17 has the potential to shine at the World Cup.

The heavy defeats of 0-3 against Australia and 1-4 against South Korea serve as lessons for the Vietnam U.17 team to improve before reaching the highest peak: the 2026 U.17 World Cup.

Vietnam U.17 can hold their heads high.

Vietnam U.17's journey in the Asian tournament has come to an end after a 0-3 defeat against Australia U.17 (early morning of May 17).

Coach Cristiano Roland's young team suffered a convincing defeat against an opponent who played with a superior and well-structured strategy. The Australian U17 team learned from their 1-2 loss to Vietnam U17 (Southeast Asian U17 Championship 2026) and avoided repeating the mistake of leaving gaps when pushing forward in attack.

Coach Carl Veart's players played cautiously, keeping a minimum of five players in their own half, maintaining a tight formation, and the lines moved very well to provide cover for each other.

Vietnam U.17 (in red jerseys) establishes its position in Asia.

PHOTO: VFF

While the Australian U17 team calmly and rhythmically coordinated their play, patiently waiting for space to open up, it was the Vietnamese U17 team that rushed into things. Although they maintained good possession, Roland's players lacked the patience for quick passing and combination play, instead frequently resorting to speed races. Their attempts to push the ball out wide to players like Le Sy Bach, Nguyen Van Duong, and Nguyen Ngoc Anh Hao were completely thwarted as the Australian U17 full-backs maintained good positions.

The Oceania representatives scored 3 goals, all from unexpected situations that accelerated the pace when the Vietnamese U17 team was running out of steam. Having only played 2 matches (compared to Vietnam's 3), and almost certainly securing a place in the semi-finals after winning against India, the Australian U17 team had a God-given gift: physical fitness. Max Court and his teammates capitalized on their superior physical condition and relaxed mindset to overcome fatigue, relentlessly attacking as the Vietnamese U17 team was exhausted.

However, the Vietnam U17 team can still hold their heads high. Winning and losing are commonplace in youth football. Defending third-place team South Korea U17 drew with UAE and Yemen and were eliminated early in the quarterfinals. Hosts Saudi Arabia U17 were also eliminated with an undeniable defeat.

The journey in Saudi Arabia has come to a perfect end, with Roland's pupils securing a World Cup ticket, reaching the quarterfinals for the first time in 10 years, and even suffering some heavy defeats... but nothing to worry about or regret. The most valuable thing on their journey home is knowing where they stand.

Do not be arrogant in victory, and do not be discouraged in defeat.

PHOTO: VFF

The Vietnam U.17 team has moved closer to the top group in the continent, but there is still a long way to go if they want to catch up.

It could still be better.

One of the factors contributing to the success of the Vietnam U.17 team (undefeated in 18 out of their last 20 matches) under Roland's leadership lies in their stable team structure.

The Brazilian coach used a core group of 11 familiar players from the Southeast Asian and Asian tournaments. With players who had trained and played together seamlessly, the Vietnam U17 team operated systematically, maintaining their attacking and pressing philosophy regardless of wins or losses.

However, the downside of this stability is the depletion of physical strength. Roland's key players have become exhausted from playing continuously, while reserves like Nguyen Hiep Dai Viet Nam and Tran Manh Quan have not yet met expectations. Therefore, the Vietnam U17 team easily runs out of steam in the second half and lacks a "plan B" when their tactics are figured out.

Vietnam's U.17 team is strong but lacks depth.

PHOTO: VFF

Six months of preparation for the 2026 U-17 World Cup will be invaluable for Coach Roland, as it gives him time to select new talents from the national U-17 league. The Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has planned to organize a league for the U-16 age group to hone the squad for the U-17 Asian Championship next year. This is also an opportunity for Roland to visit the stadiums to scout and assess the quality of the 2010 generation, with many hidden gems. With the improving facilities and training quality at The Cong Viettel , Hanoi, and PVF, the Vietnamese U-17 players will increasingly refine their technical skills and tactical thinking.

Coach Roland and his players have accumulated enough experience. What is valuable about the Vietnam U17 team is that, whether they win or lose, the players always play with passion, maintain a stable fighting spirit, and have a receptive attitude, ready to learn. "Recurring issues," such as conceding four goals in 10 minutes against South Korea, are valuable lessons that the coaching staff will study to make adjustments.

The U.17 World Cup is a more intense competition, but talking to the young players, it's easy to see that facing strong opponents is actually a psychological boost that motivates them to play with more enthusiasm and determination. The World Cup atmosphere always brings excitement, and if they know how to take advantage of it, the Vietnam U.17 team will be formidable.

In youth football, you can never know how far a player can go. This unpredictability will help the Vietnam U17 team "transform" at the World Cup. Of course, thorough preparation and careful analysis of opponents are necessary, just like what Roland has done over the past two years.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/u17-viet-nam-du-suc-thang-hoa-o-world-cup-185260517181240821.htm