See from the match schedule
Facing the group with two opponents, U22 Laos and U22 Malaysia, is considered easy for U22 Vietnam. Dinh Bac and his teammates will open the 33rd SEA Games campaign with a match against U22 Laos on December 3. The goal is not only 3 points, but also a big win, overwhelming the opponent to create excitement in spirit and fighting spirit.
After the match with U22 Laos, U22 Vietnam will face U22 Malaysia - the team that is expected to compete for the top spot in this group with coach Kim Sang-sik and his team. Playing against opponents from weak to strong is also an advantage for U22 Vietnam to be able to have calculations for themselves.
U22 Malaysia will play U22 Laos after facing U22 Vietnam. U22 Malaysia will also look at the scores of the U22 Vietnam and U22 Laos matches to make calculations for a more important victory, creating an advantage in the goal difference before entering the match that decides the ticket to the top spot in Group B.
Due to the additional second place in the group for the team with the best results, the group of U22 Vietnam will end before the final matches of Group A and C. This will also help opponents calculate the score and goal difference if U22 Vietnam does not have the top spot in Group B.
The pressure of Mr. Kim Sang-sik
The Korean strategist admitted the pressure before the whole team left for Thailand to participate in the 33rd SEA Games. Not only is it a matter of finalizing the list of players, but also calculating how to get through the group stage, and completing the goal of bringing the gold medal in men's football to Vietnamese sports at this SEA Games.
The absence of midfielder Van Truong due to injury is also a big loss for U22 Vietnam before the tournament. Because Van Truong has always been a pillar of U22 Vietnam in recent times, having an influence on the playing style of the whole team. This forces the U22 Vietnam coaching staff to quickly find a suitable replacement.
U22 Vietnam has had a good run for the 33rd SEA Games. Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team won all 4 matches in the U.23 Southeast Asian tournament to defend their title. In the Asian qualifiers, the young Vietnamese players continued to win all 3 matches to win tickets to the final round. Most recently, at the Panda Cup friendly tournament in China, U22 Vietnam also played confidently against strong opponents.
Mr. Kim Sang-sik's team somewhat showed a scientific and disciplined defensive style of play, minimizing errors. The players followed the tactics set by the coaching staff, ensuring the position and distance of the squad, helping to create cohesion and uniformity between the lines. In particular, the mentality of the young players and their physical strength have also improved a lot to prepare for the "gold hunting" journey at the 33rd SEA Games.
