U.23 Vietnam will have unpredictable changes at SEA Games 33

Coach Kim Sang-sik brings diversity to U.23 Vietnam, when in each match, the players show a different style of play.

U.23 Vietnam is as flexible as water

After only two qualifying campaigns for the 2026 U.23 Asia and 2025 U.23 Southeast Asia, U.23 Vietnam has tested its strength against many different types of opponents.

From fierce and technical pressing like U.23 Indonesia, sideline and high ball attacks like U.23 Philippines, annoying concrete defense like U.23 Bangladesh, U.23 Singapore to good competition like U.23 Yemen, U.23 Vietnam has successfully decoded all of them.

7 wins across Southeast Asia and Asia show that U.23 Vietnam is becoming a universal "rubik's cube" in the hands of coach Kim Sang-sik. Quoc Viet and his teammates change harmoniously depending on the opponent's appearance, adapt well to the match's developments and know how to open the way to victory.

Even though many key players such as Hieu Minh, Xuan Bac, Thanh Nhan, Trung Kien, Dinh Bac, Phi Hoang were absent due to playing for the national team, U.23 Vietnam still had 2 good matches against U.23 Qatar 2 weeks ago. The students of acting head coach Dinh Hong Vinh decided to play tight in the first match to get to know their opponent, then play an open game in the rematch when they understood the way the Qatar youth team operated.

U.23 Vietnam progresses every day

PHOTO: VFF

It is not only a necessary stepping stone for the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals, where Vietnam U23 must face two West Asian "gates" named Saudi Arabia U23 and Jordan U23, but with each match, the players have another lesson to perfect their tactics and playing style.

"The current U.23 Vietnam team is very even and solid, with good physique and a modern playing style. They are also confident in expressing themselves, accumulating experience from both glory and failure," a member of the Vietnam team shared.

Under the guidance of coach Kim Sang-sik, U.23 Vietnam is on its way to becoming a well-rounded team. The 3-4-3 formation with tight defense at the back and thorough pressing at the front is increasingly operating smoothly and flexibly, with the lines keeping a reasonable distance to flexibly switch between attack and defense.

U.23 Vietnam can play pragmatically and stubbornly, like how they withstood the pressure of 30,000 spectators in the final match against U.23 Indonesia, and have enough overwhelming attack power to unlock deep defenses like they did against U.23 Laos and U.23 Singapore, but they can also play tightly, then suddenly accelerate to attack like how they defeated U.23 Yemen.

Multiple Faces

Sharing with Thanh Nien , Coach Kim Sang-sik affirmed that he always carefully studies his opponents to choose tactics for U.23 Vietnam. Mr. Kim's way of using people and tactics is always very difficult to grasp.

The number of 10 young Vietnamese players taking turns scoring in just 7 matches shows 2 things. U.23 Vietnam can score in any position, from defenders, midfielders to strikers. At the same time, coach Kim Sang-sik always has surprise plans for each type of opponent.

For example, he once trusted young player Cong Phuong (born in 2006) in the semi-finals and finals of the U.23 Southeast Asia 2025, and then the player of The Cong Viettel scored the goal that decided the championship.

Coach Kim also surprised Xuan Bac, a player who was "unknown" before the Southeast Asian tournament, then suddenly became famous and went straight to the Vietnam team. And Hieu Minh, Phi Hoang, Van Thuan, Ngoc My, although not famous, were put in the right place by Coach Kim, the stage was prepared to become heroes.

How U.23 Vietnam will perform at SEA Games 33 is still a mystery. Because the players are improving and perfecting themselves every day thanks to playing in V-League as well as the Vietnam national team. Coach Kim's tactics have also been upgraded, as he has more time to understand his students.

Next month, U.23 Vietnam will face U.23 Korea, U.23 Uzbekistan and U.23 China. These are all very strong opponents in terms of physical strength and tactics, always in the top group in Asia.

Friendly matches will help players (and the coaching staff) practice improvisation and reading match situations to flexibly change tactics.

At the SEA Games, U.23 Vietnam will face U.23 Malaysia and U.23 Laos in the group stage, and may meet U.23 Thailand and U.23 Indonesia if they advance further.

Each opponent is a new problem, in the context that Indonesian football officials are "hot-headed" because of losing to U.23 Vietnam at home, leading to a comprehensive restructuring of the force, or U.23 Thailand can call up more Thai-born players to increase fighting strength.

However, hardships reveal heroes. U.23 Vietnam is ready to face the challenge. Preparations for the SEA Games are quietly taking place every day, preparing to pave the way to the third gold medal in history.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/u23-viet-nam-se-bien-hoa-kho-luong-o-sea-games-33-185251028214946177.htm