The other side of the Vietnam U23 team
"The Vietnam U23 team doesn't need to dominate their opponents, but they always know how to control space, master their formation, and force their opponents to play at their own pace," commented expert Ehab Zahdi of Al Bayan (UAE).
If you pay close attention to the Vietnamese U23 team's journey at this year's U23 Asian Championship in Saudi Arabia, fans can see a transformation in the team's performance in the match against the UAE U23 team. In the group stage, the "Golden Star Warriors" displayed a rugged, formidable image and made the most of their strength from set pieces to punish their opponents.
The Vietnam U23 team showed a different side in the match against the UAE U23 team. Coach Kim Sang Sik's team attacked more proactively (Photo: VFF).
However, in the match against the UAE U23 team, the Vietnam U23 team played a more proactive attacking game. All three goals for Coach Kim Sang Sik's team came from well-planned attacking plays. Specifically, the three goals originating from the right wing (opening the scoring 1-0), the left wing (2-1), and the center (3-2) demonstrated the diversity in the attacking style of the "Golden Star Warriors".
The statistics also partly reflect this reality. Although Vietnam U23 still had slightly less possession than UAE U23, the team had more shots on goal (14 compared to 13), more shots on target (5 compared to 3), and more corner kicks (6 compared to 3) than their opponents this season.
The heat map below also shows that the most active areas (bold sections) for the Vietnam U23 team were mainly in the midfield and on the flanks, rather than being pushed back to their own half of the field as in previous matches.
The heat map of the Vietnam U23 team's match against the UAE U23 team shows that the team was very active in the midfield area (Photo: AFC).
The heat map of the Vietnam U23 team in the match against Kyrgyzstan U23 shows that the Vietnam U23 team was pushed back to the back of the field quite a lot (Image: AFC).
Journalist Huang Jianxiang of Sohu (China), who closely followed the Vietnamese U23 team in this tournament, commented: "The Vietnamese U23 team controlled the match against the UAE U23 team well thanks to their good passing ability and excellent game reading skills."
The Vietnam U23 team created significantly more opportunities than their opponents, demonstrating a strong attacking desire and a high level of teamwork. Tactically, the Vietnam U23 team showed remarkable cohesion and discipline. The match not only showcased the indomitable fighting spirit of the Vietnam U23 team but also highlighted their remarkable progress in technique and tactics.”
The formidable aspect of the Vietnam U23 team lies in their unpredictable adaptability in each match. Few expected that coach Kim Sang Sik would not hesitate to play on equal terms with the UAE U23 team, which includes many naturalized players of African origin.
A strong physical foundation allowed the Vietnam U23 team to implement coach Kim Sang Sik's tactical plans. Even in the final moments of the second half and extra time against the UAE U23 team, the Vietnamese players surged forward, overwhelming their opponents thanks to their superior physical fitness. This demonstrates that Vietnamese football has made significant progress, approaching Asian-level standards.
As expert Huang Jianxiang predicted: "If the Vietnam U23 team continues to maintain its technical level and simultaneously improve its physical fitness, combined with the addition of naturalized players, they can go even further in international competitions."
Looking ahead, the generation of Van Khang, Dinh Bac, and Thai Son has the opportunity to write their own history. Eight years ago, their predecessors, including Quang Hai, Xuan Truong, and Cong Phuong, achieved a victory on a snow-covered pitch in Changzhou (China). And now, in the sunny land of Saudi Arabia, Vietnamese football is ready to create a new miracle.
Vietnam U23 team has made remarkable progress in technique and tactics (Photo: VFF).
The unknown quantity is China U23 in the semi-finals.
Vietnam's opponent in the semi-finals of the U23 Asian Championship, China's U23 team, is a very special team. On their way to the semi-finals, coach Antonio Puche's squad has only scored... one goal, courtesy of center-back Peng Xiao, and has not conceded a single goal.
They were the team with the most clearances (174, far ahead of the rest). Center-back Peng Xiao led with 46 clearances. Another center-back for the Chinese U23 team, Yiran He, also had 32 clearances (ranking third). Goalkeeper Li Hao also had the most saves with 24, including 8 in the match against Uzbekistan U23.
China's U23 team is very strong defensively (Photo: AFC).
Essentially, Coach Puche's Chinese U23 team always prioritizes defense before looking for weaknesses in their opponents to exploit. For example, in the quarter-final match against Uzbekistan, the Chinese U23 team was willing to take their opponents to a penalty shootout to win. Watching the Chinese U23 players take penalties, it's clear they've practiced this skill extensively.
Many believe that the Vietnamese U23 team will have an easier time than the Uzbekistani U23 team, but that's not necessarily true. The Chinese U23 team has a completely different playing style compared to the teams the Vietnamese U23 team has faced in this tournament.
In all four matches, the Vietnam U23 team had less possession than their opponents. But in the upcoming match, Coach Kim Sang Sik's team will have to face the team with the best defense in the tournament and will be willing to concede possession.
Remember, strong teams like U23 Iraq, U23 Australia, U23 Uzbekistan, and U23 Thailand tried everything but still couldn't break through the highly organized defense of U23 China. Therefore, Coach Kim Sang Sik can make changes to the playing style in just a few short days. Finding a way to penetrate the "concrete wall" of Coach Puche's team is a very difficult challenge.
Nevertheless, what fans can have faith in regarding the Vietnam U23 team is their resilience and unwavering determination in the face of any challenge. This "weapon" has helped the team weather the storm. In fact, the more difficult the situation, the more the resilience of the young Vietnamese players improves.
For example, in the SEA Games 33 final, when many thought the Vietnam U23 team had almost lost the championship after being 2-0 down against Thailand U23 in the first half, Coach Kim Sang Sik's team rallied and won 3-2. Similarly, in the recent match against the UAE U23 team, the entire team was under immense pressure as the opponent repeatedly equalized. However, once again, the Vietnam U23 team overcame the difficulties in a remarkable way.
The Vietnamese U23 team's fighting spirit is truly admirable (Photo: AFC).
As the Thai newspaper Siam Sport exclaimed: "The Vietnam U23 team showed truly remarkable resilience in their thrilling victory against the UAE U23 team. They are capable of reaching the final of the Asian U23 Championship. The team is becoming a sensation across Asia at this moment."
Vietnamese football went through difficult times under coach Troussier, but now, seeds of hope are beginning to sprout under coach Kim Sang Sik. The most important factor contributing to Vietnamese football's success is that the South Korean coach has known how to inspire the fighting spirit, the will to win, and the self-confidence of the players.
And while on this journey of joy, the Vietnam U23 team could go much further than many people imagine.
AFC U23 Asian Championship 2026 schedule
Semi-finals
6:30 PM on January 20th: Japan U23 vs. South Korea U23
10:30 PM on January 20th: Vietnam U23 vs. China U23
Third-place match (10 PM, January 23rd): The two teams that lost in the semi-finals.
Final: (10 PM on January 24th): The two winning teams from the semi-finals
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/u23-viet-nam-vao-ban-ket-bien-hoa-khon-luong-ban-linh-dang-ne-20260118024348631.htm
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