Don't let it go
The 33rd SEA Games men's football will apply the same format as the U23 Southeast Asian finals in the last 3 tournaments. Instead of dividing the two groups and taking the first and second place in the semi-finals, host Thailand divided the 9 participating teams into 3 groups. Therefore, only the teams that are first in each group and the second-placed teams with the best results will qualify for the next round.
This format makes each match in the SEA Games men's football competition unlike the final. Because with just one defeat, the teams' chances of reaching the semi-finals will be significantly reduced.
Even goal difference in matches does not guarantee a place in the group stage for the ambitious teams. Of course, only when they win both matches, U22 Vietnam, U22 Thailand or U22 Indonesia will they definitely advance deep in men's football.
For Group B alone, the opponents of U22 Vietnam including U22 Laos and U22 Malaysia are also unpredictable.
Coach Ha Hyeok-jun's team arrived in Thailand quite early and quickly had practice sessions to get acquainted with the field. This helps U22 Laos feel more confident before the opening match against Vietnam on December 3.
The force of U22 Laos has also been built and honed over the past 3 years. Many young players have joined the national team early to improve their skills.
Remember, in the hard-fought 2-0 victory of the Vietnam team over Laos in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers, 8 players of the U22 team were placed in the starting lineup and caused many difficulties for Tien Linh, Hoang Duc, Quang Hai...
The championship candidate is determined
After the match with Laos, U22 Vietnam will meet direct competitor, U22 Malaysia. Coach Nafuzi Zain declared the Vietnamese team to dispel the tense atmosphere that has surrounded them for the past 2 months.
The force that U22 Malaysia chose to participate in the 33rd SEA Games has "co-stars" striker Ferguson Tierney. He has participated in many Southeast Asian tournaments at different levels, promising to be the name that created a storm for goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien's goal.
In addition to Malaysia, U22 Vietnam will have to face two more difficult opponents, U22 Thailand and the defending champion U22 Indonesia (if they pass the group stage).
The home team of the SEA Games received the task from Madam Pang to regain the gold medal after 8 years of waiting. They have called up many good players from the generation born in 2003 and later. One of them is Yotsakorn Burapha - the talent that is considered the most promising in Southeast Asia at the moment.
U22 Indonesia is considered the strongest opponent that U22 Vietnam can face at the 33rd SEA Games. Mr. Erick Thohir - President of the Indonesian Football Federation personally contacted and received consensus from the country's clubs when recruiting 3 stars to compete, including Ivar Jenner (Utrecht), Mauro Zijlstra ( volendam), Dion Markx (NEC).
Remember, in the victory of young Vietnamese players against Indonesia in the U23 Southeast Asian final, the opponent did not have the strongest force like at this SEA Games. Therefore, if they have the opportunity to reunite, coach Kim Sang-sik's team will face a bigger challenge.
