Vietnam U17 beat Australia U17, why not?

The Vietnam U17 team is capable of overcoming the obstacle posed by the Australia U17 team, if coach Cristiano Roland and his players prepare well both tactically and mentally.

The motivation of the Vietnam U.17 team.

The Vietnam U.17 team will begin their journey at the 2025 AFC U.17 Championship with a match against Australia U.17 at 10 PM tomorrow (April 4th).

Coach Cristiano Roland's team is in the "group of death" Group B with U.17 Japan, U.17 Australia, and U.17 UAE. Le Huy Viet Anh and his teammates aim to advance from the group stage (the top two teams), which would secure a spot in the 2025 U.17 World Cup.

If Vietnam U17 defeats Australia U17 in their opening match, they will have one foot in the next round. Given that each team only plays three group stage matches, winning one game creates a significant advantage.

Vietnam U.17 team trains in preparation for the U.17 Asian Championship.

PHOTO: VFF

The Australian U17 team reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 AFC U17 Championship (a tournament where the Vietnamese U17 team was eliminated in the group stage). Historically, the youth team, nicknamed "Socceroos," has participated in the U17 World Cup 13 times. In the 2025 AFC U17 Championship finals, the Australian U17 team reached the semi-finals three times and were eliminated in the quarter-finals three times.

To prepare for the 2025 U.17 Asian Championship, the Australian U.17 team played three friendly matches in February, achieving impressive results: crushing Saudi Arabia U.17 4-0, winning against South Korea U.17 (2-1), and drawing with Oman U.17.

With 8 years of experience working in Malaysia (2014-2022), Coach Brad Maloney is a key player for the Australian U17 team. He has a deep understanding of Vietnamese football after participating in numerous Southeast Asian youth tournaments. The Australian coach has a decisive and direct coaching style, building the Australian U17 team with a playing style that emphasizes physical strength.

The Australian youth team has a European-style approach, playing many long balls, attacking down the flanks well, and being strong in tackles. The Vietnam U17 team needs to prepare for the tough physical battle that their opponent will present in the match on the evening of April 4th.

However, the Vietnam U17 team has every reason to be confident. Since 2013, Vietnamese youth football teams have repeatedly defeated Australia at the youth level. In the 2013 Asian qualifiers, the Vietnam U19 team beat the Australia U19 team 5-1. The two teams met again in the group stage of the 2014 Southeast Asian U19 Championship, where the Vietnam U19 team won again thanks to a spectacular goal by Nguyen Cong Phuong.

At the younger level, Coach Dinh The Nam's Vietnam U16 team lost 0-1 to Australia U16 in the 2015 Asian U16 Championship qualifiers. A year later, Vietnam U16 drew 3-3 with Australia U16 in the 2016 Southeast Asian U16 Championship final before losing on penalties.

Coach Roland breathes new life into the Vietnam U.17 team.

PHOTO: VFF

However, at the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship finals, Vietnam's U-16 team came from behind to beat Australia's U-16 team 3-2, securing their place in the knockout stage.

In 2018, Vietnam U23 defeated Australia U23 1-0 in the group stage of the AFC U23 Asian Championship, paving the way for the "Changzhou miracle". Then, in 2023, Vietnam U20 beat Australia U20 1-0 in the group stage of the AFC U20 Asian Championship.

Fight

The Australian youth teams are strong, but never a major obstacle. Their opponents possess good physique, tackling ability, physical strength, and stamina. However, the Vietnamese U17 team has the skill and agility to counter them.

The contrast between the two styles of play gives the Vietnam U.17 team the ability to compete with the strength of the Australia U.17 team.

The prerequisite is to prepare a sound playing style, along with a strong mental foundation, for this very fierce competition.

"The Vietnam U17 team is well-prepared, but their opponents are also fiercely competing for a World Cup spot. With youth football always full of surprises, we always have hope," analyzed expert Doan Minh Xuong.

Vietnam U.17's schedule for the U.17 Asian Championship.

PHOTO: VFF

When coaches Dinh The Nam and Nguyen Quoc Tuan were in charge, the U.17 Vietnam players were encouraged to play openly, with space for creativity. However, under the coaching of Coach Roland, the U.17 Vietnam team has shifted towards a more disciplined and pragmatic approach.

In their last 7 matches against strong opponents, the Vietnam U17 team conceded only 1 goal. Defense is a priority for coach Roland, allowing the Vietnam U17 team to approach matches cautiously and strategically. Le Huy Viet Anh and his teammates usually play solidly, maintaining a stable tempo to assess the opponent's strength, then choosing the right moment to strike.

Vietnam U17 has won 3 of their last 7 matches with a 1-0 scoreline. Minimal goals but maximum effectiveness. That's the path for Coach Roland's team to dream of victory against the "giants".

The U.17 team dropped 3 players.

Three players who missed out on this year's U.17 Asian Championship are Tran Hoang Khanh (PVF), Ha Huy Phuc ( Hanoi ), and Mai Viet Dung (Hong Linh Ha Tinh). This can be considered a difficult decision for coach Cristiano Roland, because in his assessment, all the players included in the Vietnam U.17 squad preparing for the 2025 U.17 Asian Championship deserve a chance. However, the regulations only allow each team to register a maximum of 23 players in the official list, forcing him to make the best possible choice.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/u17-viet-nam-thang-u17-uc-tai-sao-khong-185250403133120876.htm