Vietnam U17 and the value of defeats

(NLĐO) - The journey of the Vietnam U17 team at the 2026 Asian U17 Championship ended with a 0-3 defeat against Australia U17 in the quarterfinals, but that was not the end of disappointment.

The gap with the top teams in the continent is clearly noticeable.

The tournament in Saudi Arabia can be seen as a crucial turning point for a generation making their debut on a major stage. At the same time, after previously facing opponents considered significantly weaker such as U17 Singapore, Hong Kong, and Malaysia, this is also the first time the young Vietnamese players have clearly felt the gap between their country's youth football and the top teams in the continent.

The Vietnam U17 team is the fifth Vietnamese team to participate in the World Cup (Photo: VFF)

The historic ticket to the 2026 U17 World Cup is a well-deserved reward for the efforts of coach Cristiano Roland and his team. However, the greatest value that the "Golden Star Warriors" received lies in the valuable lessons learned from the matches, which were among the most intense and high-pressure at the continental youth level.

The first obvious weakness was the issue of physical fitness. The Vietnam U17 team played bravely against the "giant" South Korea, even leading until the final minutes. However, a decline in physical condition meant the Southeast Asian representatives no longer had the strength to maintain their defensive and competitive abilities. At this point, the South Korean team truly accelerated, causing Vietnam U17 to concede 4 goals in just 10 minutes.

The same scenario repeated itself in the quarter-final match against Australia U17. After a tense group stage to qualify for the World Cup, the young Vietnamese players were no longer in their best physical condition. Meanwhile, the Australian representatives, possessing superior physique, speed, and strength, had played one less match. This difference caused the "Golden Star Warriors" to gradually run out of steam in the second half and lack sharpness in counter-attacks.

Experiences are essential for the process of growing up .

Furthermore, due to their physical inferiority, the Vietnamese U17 team's ability to defend against aerial balls and win one-on-one challenges is not particularly good. Coach Cristiano Roland's squad has an average height and weight that is among the lowest in the 2026 AFC U17 Championship. Against opponents with ideal physical attributes like South Korea or Australia, the Vietnamese U17 defense often struggles in aerial duels or direct confrontations.

The Vietnam U17 team (in red jerseys) will mature further after this year's continental tournament (Photo: AFC)

On the other hand, top-level Asian youth football demands more than just exceptional skill or sheer resilience. At many points, a "cool head" is the key to helping the entire team overcome adversity. The Vietnam U17 defense performed reasonably well under pressure from South Korea U17. However, the equalizer in the 84th minute came as a major shock to Coach Cristiano Roland's players. In the following minutes, confidence was replaced by panic, leading to a chain reaction of collapse.

This is understandable for a team where the majority of players are making their first appearance on the continental stage. At this level, major defeats are necessary experiences for growth. Even strong football nations need a long process of accumulation to develop resilience in competition. For example, after reaching the quarter-finals of the 1987 U17 World Cup, it took the South Korean U17 team 16 years to return to this tournament.

Of course, the positive aspect is that Coach Cristiano Roland's team has shown remarkable professional progress. Under the guidance of the Brazilian coach, the Vietnam U17 team no longer plays passively like previous generations. The young players have confidently controlled the ball, pressed, and implemented a proactive style of play against stronger opponents.

This reflects the future generation of Vietnamese football gradually developing a modern playing mindset, focusing on teamwork rather than waiting for a star to shine. More importantly, when their unbeaten streak, which had lasted since November 2025, ended against South Korea U17, Chu Ngoc Nguyen Luc and his teammates also learned how to boost their morale at the right time.

Six months isn't a long time to completely transform a team. Stepping onto the "big stage" of the U17 World Cup this November, the "Golden Star Warriors" may not yet be the perfect version of themselves. But with the recent performances of the Vietnam U17 team, fans have reason to believe in a generation of players who will help the Vietnamese national team reach the World Cup in the not-too-distant future.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/u17-viet-nam-va-gia-tri-cua-nhung-that-bai-196260517141006291.htm