At the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, U23 Vietnam once again created historic moments. "Golden Star Warriors" made the whole continent tilt when they won all 4 matches, proudly advancing to the semi-finals.
Modern playing style and steel spirit
The success of U23 Vietnam does not come from luck. It is the result of a modern, flexible tactical system under the guidance of coach Kim Sang-sik.
A versatile operating diagram from 5-2-3 when defending to 3-4-3 when attacking has continuously caused chaos for formidable opponents such as U23 Jordan, U23 Kyrgyzstan, U23 Saudi Arabia and U23 UAE.
The biggest difference of this generation of players lies in the uniformity of technique and abundant physical foundation. The image of Vietnamese players still maintaining the intensity of attack and defense in extra time of the quarter-final match, while the West Asian team has clearly declined, showing a long step forward in preparation.
More importantly, the fighting spirit. U23 Vietnam no longer takes the field with the thought of learning, but enters the match as warriors ready to face all "big guys" fairly. "Golden Star Warriors" want to think about titles instead of just setting goals of rubbing shoulders.
Generational succession
The current success of U23 Vietnam bears the strong imprint of a long-term construction process. Pillars such as Khuat Van Khang, Dinh Bac or Thai Son have all grown through many levels of the youth team, under the guidance of former coach Philippe Troussier.
The philosophy of giving playing opportunities to young players, instead of just being on the bench at the club, has formed a generation rich in bravery, without fear.
The combination of that foundation and the sharp tactical thinking of coach Kim Sang-sik has created the most comprehensive U23 Vietnam version ever.
U23 Vietnam - U23 China semi-final
This year's semi-finals witnessed two fateful matches, representing different football schools of the continent.
In which, the semi-final match between U23 Vietnam and U23 China is attracting special attention. China is going deep thanks to its pragmatic playing style, ready to set up a "double-decker bus" in front of the goal, waiting for the opponent's mistakes or dragging the match into a penalty shootout.
However, with a U23 Vietnam team that prefers ball control, small group coordination and continuous penetration into the center, the "concrete" playing style can completely become a double-edged sword.
The flexibility in movement, positioning ability and intelligent handling thinking of the red-shirted players can completely force the Chinese defense to make mistakes.
This is not only a match to win a ticket to the final, but also a competition between modern football rich in organization and classic counter-attacking defense - where bravery and creativity will play a decisive role.
The match between U23 Vietnam and U23 China takes place at 10:30 PM on January 20.
