Korean newspapers simultaneously reported and gave many comments for the 3rd place match of the AFC U23 Championship between U23 Vietnam and U23 Korea.
U23 Korea is led by coach Lee Min-sung, while U23 Vietnam is coached by Mr. Kim Sang-sik. That coincidence makes many newspapers call this a "derby of Korean coaches".
A famous Korean sports newspaper commented that the scenario of the two Korean strategists facing each other in the final did not happen, but their meeting in the third-place play-off was still attractive enough.
Some articles emphasize the superior head-to-head history of U23 Korea, but also acknowledge that U23 Vietnam is showing a more organized, disciplined and effective playing style at this year's tournament.
According to writer Park Hyo-jae, coach Kim Sang-sik's team left a clear mark throughout the group stage and quarter-finals, thereby making the upcoming confrontation more unpredictable than previous encounters.
From another perspective, a newspaper based in Seoul has a humorous writing style, expressing surprise when the next opponent of U23 Korea is Mr. Kim Sang-sik, who was once praised by the Korean media after the impressive journey of U23 Vietnam.
Meanwhile, another leading newspaper pointed out that the defeat in the semi-finals revealed many problems of U23 Korea, especially in defense and finishing ability. They believe that coach Lee Min-sung has not yet brought absolute peace of mind and the third-place play-off will be an important test for him and his students.
The pressure on U23 Korea is even greater when facing a coach Kim Sang-sik who understands Korean football very well. However, the Korean media also noted that U23 Vietnam is suffering a force loss when Hieu Minh is injured and Ly Duc is absent due to a card, a factor that could significantly affect the game," this newspaper emphasized.
