U.23 Vietnam faces many challenges at SEA Games 33

U.23 Vietnam's opponents are not easy.

At the 33rd SEA Games taking place in December, Coach Kim Sang-sik will bring to Thailand a young but still experienced squad. Commentator Vu Quang Huy told Thanh Nien that U.23 Vietnam is the team with the most combat experience at this year's regional sports festival. Many players in the U.23 age group are now participating in the SEA Games for the second consecutive time, even names like goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien, midfielder Khuat Van Khang, and striker Nguyen Dinh Bac are often honed in the international competition environment when wearing the national team jersey. However, as the quality of the U.23 Vietnam squad improves, regional opponents are also getting stronger day by day.

U.23 Việt Nam gặp nhiều thử thách ở SEA Games 33- Ảnh 1. — U.23 Vietnam is predicted to face difficulties from the semi-finals of SEA Games 33.

U.23 Vietnam is in Group B with Malaysia and Laos. Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team are expected to have no difficulty in getting through the group stage. However, challenges will arise when the Golden Star team enters the semi-finals, where there is a high possibility of strong football teams in the region such as Thailand and Indonesia. In theory, the possibility of U.23 Vietnam facing "tough" opponents such as Thailand or Indonesia in the semi-finals is entirely possible. These are also two teams that are investing heavily and preparing carefully for the goal of winning the SEA Games gold medal.

Thailand U23 has the home field advantage and is determined to return to the top of the region, after 3 consecutive empty-handed congresses (from 2019 to present). Most recently, the President of the Football Association of Thailand (FAT) Nualphan Lamsam (Madam Pang) has successfully persuaded and urgently completed the naturalization application for Jude Soonsup-Bell. This 21-year-old striker grew up in England, currently playing for Grimsby Town (League Two, England); played for England youth teams (U.15 to U.19), before signing a professional contract with Chelsea and playing for the club's first team at the Carabao Cup. Soonsup-Bell is expected to debut for the Thai national team at FIFA Days next November. The fact that the FAT President personally "recruited" this player not only served the strategy of rejuvenating Thai football, but was also an important move to strengthen the U.23 team of the "war elephants" to compete in the 33rd SEA Games. The attack of the Thai youth team promises to be dangerous with the appearance of rookie Soonsup-Bell, alongside the outstanding young talent Yotsakorn Burapha.

Meanwhile, Indonesian football is focusing all its efforts on the ambition to successfully defend the gold medal. This is understandable, because after the failure in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, the Indonesian team no longer has any major goals in 2025 and 2026, before participating in the 2027 Asian Cup. President of the Indonesian Football Federation (PSSI) Erick Thohir affirmed that he will do his best to ensure that the country's U.23 team has the best squad. PSSI is trying to negotiate for naturalized players such as Adrian Wibowo, Mauro Zijlstra, Ivar Jenner and young star Marselino Ferdinan (playing abroad) to participate in the 33rd SEA Games. Because the regional sports festival is not part of the FIFA competition system, the host clubs have the right to not release their players. Meanwhile, Indonesia's domestic tournament has been suspended to create the most favorable conditions for the U.23 team.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/u23-viet-nam-gap-nhieu-thu-thach-o-sea-games-33-185251029215021823.htm