Vietnam U23 vs China U23: A tough match, why?

The U23 Vietnam vs. U23 China match in the semi-finals of the U23 Asian Championship has excited many fans. But behind the seemingly easy path lies a number of potential challenges.

It seems easy

The fact that Vietnam U23 will face China U23 in the semi-finals is clearly a relief compared to the prospect of having to confront Uzbekistan U23 – a team always considered a top force in Asian youth football. In the general mindset of fans, China remains a familiar opponent, not significantly superior in terms of skill compared to Vietnam at the youth level in recent years.

In fact, the Vietnam U23 team has many reasons to be confident. Recent encounters between the two teams have often yielded positive results for Coach Kim Sang Sik's team, including a victory in the Panda Cup 2025, just before the SEA Games 33.

Vietnam U23 is considered stronger than China U23, at least in terms of results.

Furthermore, if we compare the two teams in this year's AFC U23 Asian Championship, Vietnam U23 is making a much stronger impression. Victories against strong opponents like Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and UAE show that Coach Kim Sang Sik's team possesses a coherent playing style, excellent physical condition, and stable fighting spirit.

Meanwhile, China's U23 team's journey to the semi-finals wasn't particularly convincing from a technical standpoint, at least not if you only look at the statistics. Therefore, the feeling that it "seemed easy" is completely understandable.

But it won't be that simple.

Looking at their performance, the Chinese U23 team only scored one goal in the group stage, winning one match to advance from the first round. In the quarter-finals, they only progressed after a lucky penalty shootout (0-0 draw after 120 minutes) against Uzbekistan U23.

But it is precisely this "ugliness" that makes the Chinese U23 team so formidable. This team is not weak; they are playing a very clear-cut style of football: prioritizing solidity, discipline, and organized defense. The fact that they haven't conceded a single goal in four matches against opponents with different styles is the clearest evidence of this.

But from a professional standpoint, the Chinese U23 team is proving to be a very formidable opponent.

In particular, in the goalless draw against Uzbekistan U23, the Chinese U23 defense operated meticulously with a deep defensive formation, blocking off the midfield, minimizing space, and forcing Uzbekistan U23 into a stalemate. It wasn't a visually appealing style of play, but it was extremely effective in knockout matches.

For the Vietnam U23 team, the challenge lies in breaking down that defensive system while avoiding the psychological trap of feeling superior. A moment of lack of concentration, a small mistake in finishing or defensive transition, could completely reverse the course of the game.

Therefore, despite being considered the stronger team, the Vietnam U23 team will not have an easy victory as many people think. To reach the final, coach Kim Sang Sik's team needs patience, composure, courage, and, more importantly, readiness for a long match, possibly even a penalty shootout.

Watch the entire 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship Finals on TV360 at https://tv360.vn

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/u23-viet-nam-dau-u23-trung-quoc-khong-de-thang-vi-dau-2482977.html