The "barrier" of water bottles of U23 Vietnam somewhat hindered the throw-in of U23 Indonesia. |
The image of a series of water bottles lined up along the sidelines in the final match of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship has become the focus of an interesting debate. Is it a cunning strategy of U23 Vietnam or simply the truth as coach Kim Sang-sik explained? The answer probably lies in both sides.
In the post-match press conference, when asked about this strange "tactic", coach Kim Sang-sik gave a straightforward answer: "The weather is very hot, we arranged the water bottles like that so that the players could drink water conveniently, without any other intention."
This explanation makes perfect sense. In hot weather conditions, ensuring players are hydrated quickly and frequently is vital to maintaining fitness.
Placing water bottles along the technical area is the quickest and most convenient solution. Looking at the context of other tournaments, it is not uncommon for water bottles to appear near the touchline.
When Carlos Queiroz was Iran's coach, images of many water bottles placed near the touchline were often seen. |
However, the events on the field tell a different story, a story of smart tactical calculations and careful preparation. U23 Indonesia entered the final with an extremely dangerous "weapon". The throw-ins were straight into the penalty area with great force, no different from a corner kick. To execute these throws, the players need enough space to gain momentum.
And the "water bottle fence" of U23 Vietnam, whether intentionally or unintentionally, became a perfect obstacle. They were neatly arranged, minimizing the space for the Indonesian players to gain momentum. This plan clearly worked, especially in the tense final minutes of the match.
The most notable moment came in injury time, when an Indonesian player was forced to pass the ball back to the goalkeeper after failing to execute a shot as intended. A member of the home team’s coaching staff was so frustrated that he kicked a water bottle out of the way and was immediately shown a red card by the referee.
In Europe, items such as water bottles are often placed neatly in the technical area or on a separate tray to avoid affecting the match. Therefore, the arrangement of U23 Vietnam this time may be unintentional, but it brings about a clear tactical effect, causing the opponent to lose an important attack option at the decisive moment.
In Europe, water bottles are placed in a tray which looks neater and more professional. |
The action of the U23 Vietnam coaching staff can be completely considered a cunning move, lying in the "gray area" of football rules. It does not violate the rules, on the contrary, it creates a clear tactical advantage.
In Europe’s top leagues, watering is often done in a more professional manner, with neat trays carried onto the pitch by staff or placed in designated areas. Water bottles being thrown or left lying around on the pitch are sometimes a sign of intense matches, where coaches and players use every trick possible.
Coach Kim Sang-sik honestly said that the water bottles were placed along the sidelines with the main purpose of providing water, but it cannot be denied that the U23 Vietnam coaching staff saw the tactical benefits that came with it. This is proof that victory comes not only from skills on the field but also from the smartest and most surprising calculations from the coaching cabin.
In the end, U23 Vietnam defeated Indonesia 1-0 to win the championship for the third consecutive time. And that "water bottle barrier", regardless of its intention, became one of the memorable tactical marks, contributing to the historic victory of the "Golden Star Warriors".
The only goal helped U23 Vietnam win the Southeast Asian Championship. On the evening of July 29, the U23 Vietnam team defeated Indonesia 1-0 in the final of the 2025 Southeast Asian Championship held at Bung Karno Stadium.
Source: https://znews.vn/u23-viet-nam-tinh-quai-hay-loi-noi-that-tu-hlv-kim-post1572724.html
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