Of course, the UAE U17 team is considered stronger than the Vietnam U17 team in this crucial match for a spot in the 2026 U17 World Cup. But if coach Cristiano Roland's team plays a sensible game and maintains control throughout, then one point is not out of reach.
Is one point enough?
In theory, even if Vietnam U17 defeats UAE U17, they could still be eliminated if Yemen U17 wins against South Korea U17 by a margin of two goals or more in the match taking place at the same time.
However, the chances of the Yemen U17 team winning against the South Korean team are very small, even a draw is highly unlikely. Therefore, if they don't lose to the UAE U17 team, the Vietnam U17 team has a great opportunity to become one of the top 8 teams in the 2026 AFC U17 Championship, thereby securing a ticket to Qatar to compete in the biggest youth tournament on the planet.
Assuming a draw is the likely outcome, will Coach Roland's team easily achieve their goal? Theoretically, the UAE U17 team is considered stronger than the Vietnam U17 team. This is based on the relative standing of the two footballing nations. The UAE national team also holds the upper hand in matches against Vietnam, winning 2 out of 3 encounters.
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Vietnam's U17 team has a chance to qualify for the World Cup. |
However, football is not a matter of logical reasoning. Youth football is unpredictable, depending on the mentality and form of each tournament and each match. For example, the UAE U17 team's draw against South Korea U17 showed their formidable strength. But when the odds were stacked against them, they stumbled against Yemen U17 (2-3), an opponent who had previously lost to Vietnam U17 (0-1).
Logically, when the underdog needs just one point to secure qualification, the Vietnam U17 team would play defensively and rely on counter-attacks to ensure the safety of their goal before attempting to attack. However, it's important to note that a defensive approach, pulling the entire team back to the penalty area, would create a significant risk.
Because young players lack the necessary composure and coolness to withstand intense pressure from opponents. The disjointed style of play displayed by the Malaysian U17 team against the Vietnamese U17 team in the 2026 Southeast Asian U17 Championship final serves as a cautionary tale for Coach Roland, prompting him to be more cautious in developing tactics and formations for his players when facing the UAE U17 team.
We need to stay focused until the very last minute.
In fact, Coach Roland was very flexible in the formations used by the Vietnam U17 team. Against a weaker Yemen U17 team, Vietnam U17 deployed a 4-1-4-1 formation. Against a higher-ranked South Korea U17 team, the Brazilian strategist used a 5-2-3-1 formation, adding a defensive midfielder to create a shield from afar, thereby reducing pressure on the back four. This was considered a sensible choice, helping Vietnam U17 withstand the onslaught of South Korea U17's attacks until the 83rd minute.
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The West Asian team is a formidable opponent. |
Most likely, the Vietnam U17 team will maintain the same four-man defensive line consisting of Hoang Viet (left), Manh Cuong, Dang Khoa, and Anh Hao (right), along with two defensive midfielders, Minh Thuy and Quy Vuong, as against South Korea U17. The remaining issue is for Coach Roland's players to ensure proper spacing in their formation and tightly mark opponents with a pressing style of play.
The lack of concentration that led to three goals conceded in the last six minutes of regular time against South Korea U17 is a major lesson for Vietnam U17 to reflect on themselves, avoiding carelessness and complacency that could be costly. It's important to remember that if these mistakes are repeated, Roland's team could lose their dream of qualifying for the 2026 U17 World Cup, which is closer than ever.
Furthermore, the Vietnam U17 team also needs to increase pressure on the opponent's half whenever the opportunity arises. This is also a way to relieve pressure on the defense, giving the defenders time to regain their strength, find balance, and reorganize the defensive line to counter the UAE U17 team's attacks.
Source: https://znews.vn/u17-viet-nam-truc-cua-world-cup-lich-su-post1650888.html
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