In sports competitions, "waving the white flag" means surrendering, losing unconditionally. But in the U23 Vietnam team, it is the flag that the coaching staff wants to convey tactical strategies to the players on the field.
Assistant coach Yoon Dong-hun attracts attention with his white towel act - Screenshot
Throughout the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 final at Bung Karno Stadium, assistant coach Yoon Dong-hun attracted attention by standing close to the sidelines, waving a white towel twice as U23 Vietnam defeated host Indonesia 1-0.
Many viewers commented jokingly: "Why did U23 Vietnam win against U23 Indonesia after raising the white flag?". Explaining this, coach Kim Sang-sik said: "Because the stadium is big, there are many fans so it is very noisy. If the coaching staff gives instructions by words, it is difficult for the players to understand. Therefore, we wave towels to signal the players to press in some situations."
The Korean coach humorously compared: "We use symbols to communicate on the field, such as shaking a board to "put pressure" on the opponent or waving a towel to signal that the player needs to "change tactics". It is similar to the famous Korean admiral Yi Sun-shin deploying the crane formation by beating a drum to signal the entire army to carry out military orders."
In fact, coach Kim and his predecessor Park Hang-seo often created their own set of symbols when leading the Vietnamese team. This not only helps the home team players quickly learn but also makes it difficult for opponents to detect their strategic schemes.
In addition, the act of scattering water bottles in the technical area, preventing the Indonesian player from making his signature throw-in straight into the U23 Vietnam penalty area, also showed the cunning of the Korean coach.
Football is a sport that requires quick response in all situations without breaking the rules. Therefore, the action of the U23 Vietnam coaching staff is considered a legal "trick", not only helping the home team escape defeat but also causing the assistant coach of the U23 Indonesia to lose control of his actions and receive a direct red card.
Around the world , many veteran coaches also use cunning tricks to help their team gain an advantage. Coach Mourinho once threw a water bottle straight onto the field just to prevent the opponent's quick counterattack. However, the Portuguese coach's actions had to be paid for with a penalty card.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/vi-sao-ban-huan-luyen-vay-co-trang-nhung-u23-viet-nam-van-thang-196250730094917418.htm
Comment (0)