U23 Vietnam had a rather tense match with U23 Cambodia in the final round of the group stage of the 2025 U23 Southeast Asian Championship. Due to physical exhaustion, the coaching staff decided to reduce the amount of movement for the players.
The July 23 session mainly involved gentle recovery exercises such as picking up the ball, running loosely, stretching and improving the ball feeling. However, the notable point is the absence of central defender Pham Ly Duc - one of the pillars of the defense.
According to information from the team, Ly Duc suffered an ankle injury and was given a full break at the hotel to recover. The coaching staff hopes he will recover in time for the upcoming semi-final against the U23 Philippines.
Meanwhile, the group of reserve players or players who played little in the match against U23 Cambodia continued to practice tactics under the direct guidance of coach Kim Sang-sik. Striker Nguyen Dinh Bac has been tested in the role of center forward.
The assignment of Dinh Bac to a new task partly reflects that the striker's playing style is having certain changes, while the coaching staff also has tactical adjustments, towards a more flexible and diverse playing style.
U23 Vietnam also analyzed the opponent through video. According to midfielder Xuan Bac, the Philippines team is considered to have a disciplined and quite solid playing style.
"We will have a reasonable approach, not only focusing on naturalized players but will play with the goal of resolving their entire tactical system," Xuan Bac emphasized.
The semi-final match between U23 Vietnam and U23 Philippines will be a real challenge, both professionally and mentally. In the context of a pillar like Ly Duc not being sure to play, coach Kim Sang-sik and his colleagues will need to make timely adjustments to ensure stability in personnel and tactics to ensure victory.
The match between U23 Vietnam and U23 Philippines will take place at 4:00 p.m. on June 25.
