Vietnam U17 team is ready for the crucial match against UAE U17 - Photo: VFF
Before the final matchday of Group C, South Korea U17 is leading the group with 4 points, followed by Vietnam U17 (3 points), Yemen U17 (3 points), and UAE U17 (1 point). This situation means that the opportunity to advance is still open for all four teams. Therefore, it turns the final match for Coach Cristiano Roland's team into a decisive battle.
Vietnam U17 team is not aiming for a draw.
Unlike the UAE U17 team, who are at a disadvantage, the Vietnam U17 team only needs a draw to secure a high chance of qualifying for the World Cup. In this case, there are two possible scenarios.
If U17 South Korea doesn't lose to U17 Yemen in the other match played at the same time, U17 Vietnam will have 4 points and advance to the quarterfinals as runners-up in Group C. This is equivalent to a spot in the U17 World Cup. Given the current level and form of U17 South Korea, the likelihood of them losing to U17 Yemen is not high.
If U17 Yemen pulls off an upset by defeating U17 South Korea, U17 Vietnam will drop to third place in Group C. Even then, U17 Vietnam would still have a chance to qualify for the World Cup through a wildcard as the best third-placed team in all groups.
This is because the regulations of the U17 World Cup allow for an additional wildcard spot if host nation Qatar U17 reaches the quarter-finals of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship. However, regardless of the circumstances, the Vietnam U17 team needs to play with the goal of winning, not aiming for a draw.
The history of Vietnamese youth teams participating in Asian tournaments has witnessed many painful defeats, often due to matches where a draw would have been sufficient to advance.
If Vietnam U17 unfortunately loses to UAE U17, all their efforts and investment will be meaningless. Therefore, coach Cristiano Roland's team needs to play to the best of their ability to win, thereby proudly qualifying for the World Cup with a direct spot.
Capable of beating UAE U17
Based on the performance of the UAE U17 team in the last two matches, it seems they are a suitable opponent for the Vietnam U17 team. In the first match, the UAE U17 team drew 1-1 with South Korea U17, but this was a game where the South Korean U17 players hadn't yet "warmed up" or unleashed their full potential like in the match against Vietnam U17.
In the second match, the UAE U17 team took the lead against Yemen U17 but were ultimately defeated 2-3. According to experts, the UAE U17 team is not strong defensively. "The UAE U17 players cannot match the composure, perseverance, discipline, and tenacity of South Korea. If Vietnam U17 had scored first and taken the lead, we would have been in a better position."
"Although the individual abilities of the West Asian players are good, football is a team sport. With their current organizational skills and form, the Vietnam U17 team should have no problems to worry about," expert Phan Anh Tú told Tuổi Trẻ.
Under pressure to play an attacking game against Vietnam U17, UAE U17 will likely leave many gaps for Coach Roland's team to exploit. Therefore, the Vietnam U17 players need to focus on the game, capitalize on opportunities, and aim for the best possible result.
That's also what coach Roland always emphasizes to his players. He said: "The lessons from the 2025 AFC U17 Championship are still relevant. You must strive for victory and not waste any opportunity."
The U17 Vietnam players have now put aside their sadness after the comeback defeat against U17 South Korea. No more tears; they have returned to the training ground with smiles on their faces. With their confidence restored, and with their fate still in their own hands, U17 Vietnam is fully capable of putting up a strong fight against U17 UAE.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/u17-viet-nam-u17-uae-thang-de-di-world-cup-20260513094057075.htm
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