Vietnam U23: Perfection is still a long way off.

Perfect

From many perspectives, the victory against U23 Saudi Arabia in the final group stage match can be considered perfect, as coach Kim Sang Sik's approach to the game was sensible, calm, and highly disciplined.

The Vietnam U23 team didn't rush into an attacking game, nor did they adopt an extreme defensive formation. The team maintained good spacing, the defensive block operated tightly, and the lines clearly supported each other. When opportunities arose, Coach Kim Sang Sik's players were ready to launch quick counter-attacks, putting pressure back on the home team.

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The Vietnam U23 team is having some excellent matches.

Of course, it should also be added that the fact that the Vietnam U23 team was able to play so proactively (especially in the second half) stemmed from a more favorable situation compared to the Saudi Arabia U23 team, meaning that simply avoiding defeat would secure them the top spot in the group.

However, regardless of the circumstances, the performance against U23 Saudi Arabia is considered the best ever by the Vietnam U23 team under coach Kim Sang Sik. Simply because Coach Kim Sang Sik's players showed confidence, composure, and resilience… reflecting a clear maturation on the continental stage.

Even more than that.

However, looking closely at the game, the Vietnam U23 team still has areas for improvement to become more perfect. In attack, over-reliance on Dinh Bac is clearly a double-edged sword.

Dinh Bac was the brightest spot for the Vietnam U23 team at the Asian Championship because the number 7 player could both create breakthroughs and draw the attention of the opposing defense. However, when all attacking moves were directed towards the player from Nghe An province, the diversity in attack was greatly limited.

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But it could be even better if coach Kim Sang Sik made some adjustments.

In fact, without Dinh Bac, Vietnam U23's attacking options faced many problems, such as in the first half against Kyrgyzstan U23 or even in the victory against Saudi Arabia.

In defense, effectiveness is undeniable. However, the match against Saudi Arabia also highlighted fatal weaknesses, especially when the opponent actively played short passes, with many touches, and exploited the space behind the full-backs, and between the center-backs and wing-backs.

On several occasions, the Saudi Arabia U23 team created dangerous scoring opportunities, and if it weren't for the outstanding performance of goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien, the outcome of the match could have been completely different.

The quarter-finals present tougher opponents, both technically and psychologically, so the Vietnam U23 team needs to improve on areas such as greater attacking diversity and a defense that requires better support and cover. Only then will the "perfection" of the Vietnam U23 team not be limited to a single victory, but will become the foundation for achieving further success in the U23 Asian Championship.