The 2-0 victory over U23 Bangladesh brought 3 full points, but it was not convincing enough. The U23 Vietnam attack missed many opportunities, with three shots hitting the crossbar. The lack of accuracy in finishing narrowed the gap, while the defense sometimes left gaps in front of counter-attacks.
Football expert Phan Anh Tu commented: The Vietnam team entered the competition with the first victory against U23 Bangladesh. Through the last match, we saw that Bangladesh is a very advanced team. But what they lack is the depth of the force. In which we are superior to them in terms of stability. We have a second attacking team, very dynamic, highly mobile, and have abundant physical strength."
According to Mr. Tu, U23 Vietnam has a large force and can rotate players flexibly. Some individuals such as Dinh Bac or Viktor Le are considered to have brought breakthroughs in the playing style. However, to aim for a bigger goal, the players need to take advantage of opportunities and stay focused in defense.
In the next match, U23 Vietnam will face U23 Singapore - the team that started the tournament with a 1-2 defeat to U23 Yemen, revealing many errors in defense. However, the fighting spirit of the Lion Island youth team cannot be underestimated. They rose strongly in the second half and almost had an equalizer at the end of the match.
In the history of the confrontation, U23 Singapore lost more than won against U23 Vietnam. The last time they defeated the red-handed army was 12 years ago, at the 2013 SEA Games. However, coach Kim Sang-sik and his students still need to be cautious, because any subjectivity can change the team situation.
Expert Phan Anh Tu emphasized: U23 Vietnam will have to face U23 Singapore and U23 Yemen. I think it is also difficult. All reviews are 50-50 throughout. Because the youth teams are very determined. But defeating them easily is not difficult. At this time, it is very important to have tactical and strategic skills from the first match.
With home advantage and a better goal difference than U23 Yemen, the goal of U23 Vietnam vs U23 Singapore is not only to win, but also to need a difference in score to consolidate the top spot in the group.
Coach Kim Sang-sik assessed the opponents in Group C as similar in level, promising to create a competitive group: "I have directly followed the teams. The most important point is physical fitness, because hot weather greatly affects players when they have to play for 90 minutes.
The match between U23 Vietnam and U23 Singapore will take place at 7:00 p.m. on September 6 at Viet Tri Stadium.
