After the defeat against U17 Korea in the 2nd match of Group C of the 2026 AFC U17 Championship Finals, Chairman of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF) Tran Quoc Tuan and the coaching staff directly encouraged the spirit of the U17 Vietnam players before the decisive match in the group stage.
Although they could not score points against U17 Korea, VFF leaders assessed this as a necessary lesson for young players in the process of maturity and accumulation of international competition experience.
Sharing with the whole team in the dressing room, Chairman Tran Quoc Tuan emphasized that concentration and tactical discipline are decisive factors in big matches.
This is a very necessary lesson that you must try to overcome. In football, the match does not end until the final whistle blows. We are leading but there was a time when we played passively. However, everyone can redo it because there is still one more match ahead," Chairman Tran Quoc Tuan said.
The head of VFF also affirmed that failure is inevitable in football, but the most important thing is how players stand up after difficulties.
They are better in concentration and tactical discipline. There is nothing to cry about. In football, even the big brothers in the national team have stumbled. The important thing is that we still have opportunities," Mr. Tran Quoc Tuan encouraged the players.
Meanwhile, coach Cristiano Roland acknowledged the fighting spirit of U17 Vietnam against a higher-rated opponent such as U17 Korea.
First of all, I want to congratulate you on the efforts you have shown on the field. Football is decided by very small details and you have seen how important it is," the Brazilian strategist shared.
Coach Cristiano Roland also asked his players to quickly regain their spirit to prepare for the final match.
The opportunity is still in our hands, so the most important thing at this time is to rest, recover and prepare well for the next match. The next match is the decisive match," he emphasized.
According to the current situation of Group C, U17 Vietnam still has a chance to compete for a ticket to the quarter-finals as well as a spot to participate in the U17 World Cup 2026 if they achieve favorable results in the final match.
