Yesterday (February 14th), Osen reported: "Objectively speaking, the performance of the South Korean U23 team at the 2026 Asian U23 Championship in Saudi Arabia was a failure. In the semi-finals, South Korea lost to a team from Japan that was two years younger than them."
Midfielder Le Van Thuan (10) may reunite with U23 South Korea at Asiad (Photo: AFC).
"And in the third-place match, the South Korean U23 team suffered their first-ever defeat against the Vietnamese U23 team in the history of this tournament. The problem lies not only in the result, but also in the playing style. The lack of organization and tactical disarray of the South Korean U23 team is very difficult to explain," Osen further reported.
According to the same newspaper, the poor performance of the South Korean U23 team under coach Lee Min Sung is not a temporary phenomenon. However, Lee Min Sung has no intention of resigning after the 2026 U23 Asian Championship.
On the KFA's side, they also have no intention of dismissing coach Lee Min Sung. The KFA has given him another chance at the 20th Asian Games, which will take place from September 19th to October 4th this year in Aichi (Japan).
South Korea U23 lost to Vietnam U23 at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship (Photo: AFC).
The 16 teams participating in the men's football event of the 20th Asian Games are the same 16 teams that competed in the U23 Asian Championship in January. Since the draw for the men's football event at the 20th Asian Games has not yet taken place, theoretically, the Vietnam U23 team could face South Korea U23 again at the Asian Games in Japan.
The Osen newspaper revealed: “The KFA stated that coach Lee Min Sung presented his vision at a meeting of the National Team Strengthening Committee. This vision details the preparation for the 20th Asian Games, the plan for each match, and includes data analysis of the South Korean U23 team and their opponents.”
"This process focuses on building and evaluating the team, aiming for a medal at the Asian Games. Coach Lee Min Sung also presented a detailed plan to help the South Korean U23 team become more focused and better organized," reads the Osen newspaper.
If the South Korean U23 team were to meet the Vietnamese U23 team again at the Asian Games, many familiar faces would be reunited. Even though the VFF (Vietnam Football Federation) has decided to send the U21 team to this sporting event, the Vietnamese U21 squad at this year's Asian Games still includes players who defeated the South Korean U23 team in the third-place match of the U23 Asian Championship.
These players include goalkeeper Cao Văn Bình, midfielders Nguyễn Công Phương and Lê Văn Thuận, and forward Nguyễn Lê Phát.
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/u23-han-quoc-mo-xe-that-bai-truoc-u23-viet-nam-cho-tai-ngo-o-asiad-20260215012219069.htm
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