The Vietnam U17 team (right) during their loss to Australia U17 in the quarter-finals of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship - Photo: AFC
The 0-3 defeat against Australia U17 in the quarter-finals on the morning of May 17th provided valuable lessons for Vietnam U17 before participating in the world youth tournament in Qatar this November. If they want to achieve success against strong opponents, Vietnam U17 needs to improve significantly.
Physical strength is depleted.
Not only were the Vietnamese U17 team physically exhausted after three intense group stage matches, but they were also at a disadvantage compared to the Australian U17 team in terms of physique. The average height of the Vietnamese U17 team was only 1.73m, significantly shorter than the average height of 1.79m (the fourth tallest in the tournament) of the Australian U17 team.
With that significant advantage, coach Carl Veart instructed his players to exploit the physical and stamina weaknesses of the Vietnam U17 team to secure the victory. For the opening goal, Henrique Oliveira capitalized on a high ball, heading it to O'Carroll who finished from close range into the Vietnam U17 net. The second goal also came from a high cross, with defender Nguyen Dang Khoa misjudging the ball, allowing Hassarati to get past him and score.
Losing ground in challenges against the Australian U17 team prevented the Vietnamese U17 team from implementing their tactics effectively. Furthermore, as their physical condition deteriorated, their shots and passing decisions lacked accuracy. Their defense became even more lax. The easy goal conceded in the 75th minute clearly demonstrated this, as the Australian U17 players easily combined to score despite being surrounded by six Vietnamese U17 players.
The defeat against U17 Australia certainly doesn't overshadow the achievement of coach Cristiano Roland's team in qualifying for the 2026 U17 World Cup for the first time. However, it's clear that the U17 Vietnam team needs to improve both their physical fitness and tactical skills before facing strong opponents in the world youth tournament. This is also something the Brazilian coach will focus on in the coming period.
"I know that fitness is very important for the team. We'll rest now, but I'll try to get the whole team back to training together as soon as possible," Coach Roland said to his players.
Coach Cristiano Roland was carried on the shoulders of the fans as Vietnam U17 team qualified for the World Cup - Photo: AFC
Thorough preparation for the World Cup
Returning to Vietnam this afternoon, May 18th, the 2009-born players will participate in two national U17 and U21 tournaments to gain experience and maintain their form. The U17 national tournament (taking place in June) is a competition where almost 100% of the Vietnam U17 team will have regular playing time.
The Hanoi U17 team – the defending champions, led by coach Roland himself, along with key players Chu Ngoc Nguyen Luc, Dao Quy Vuong, and Tran Hoang Viet – will face the star-studded PVF U17 team including Ly Xuan Hoa, Nguyen Van Duong, Le Sy Bach, Nguyen Ngoc Anh Hao, and Nguyen Huynh Dang Khoa. Besides observing the performance of players who participated in the 2026 U17 Asian Championship, the Vietnam U17 coaching staff also needs to find new players with better technical skills and height to strengthen the squad for the 2026 U17 World Cup campaign.
Coach Cristiano Roland's challenge is that the U17 players don't have many opportunities to compete in larger tournaments to select new talent or maintain their form. For example, the National U21 Championship in August is the main competition for players born between 2005 and 2007, making it difficult for the 2009 generation who went to the World Cup to get many playing opportunities. The professional national leagues like the First Division or V-League are even more challenging.
Understanding this, the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) has promptly directed its professional departments to develop a high-quality training and international competition plan to best prepare the Vietnam U17 team for the 2026 U17 World Cup. It is highly likely that the Vietnam U17 team will have a training camp and international friendly matches in October to maintain their form and further improve their skills.
"Youth football requires patience and continuous support. I hope this success will attract more investment and attention to youth teams, because Vietnamese football has great potential," said coach Cristiano Roland.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/u17-viet-nam-can-chuan-bi-gi-cho-world-cup-20260518100456381.htm
Comment (0)