U23 Vietnam closed the 2026 AFC U23 Championship finals with an emotional victory in the bronze medal match, thereby marking a historical milestone with 3rd place in the continent.
Looking back at this special journey, Vice President of the Vietnam Football Federation (VFF), Head of the U23 Vietnam delegation at the tournament - Mr. Tran Anh Tu - shared frankly and professionally about the maturity of the young generation of players.
Vice President Tran Anh Tu admitted that before the tournament kicked off, even the most optimistic people could hardly imagine U23 Vietnam could go deep.
“Before entering the tournament, honestly, although very hopeful, I and many fans did not dare to think that U23 Vietnam could go so far. The opponents are all superior to us in terms of physique, fitness and level,” he said.
However, the turning point came right from the opening match against U23 Jordan, when the U23 Vietnam team showed uniformity and impressive fighting spirit. “After the opening match against U23 Jordan, the team showed themselves to be a very uniform team, without a large gap between the main and reserve squads. Good physical strength but more importantly, the will and fighting spirit are impeccable,” the Head of the U23 Vietnam delegation assessed.
According to the VFF Vice President, the journey of 6 matches with 5 victories is the result of persistent efforts, overcoming many difficulties, even physical losses and injuries.
The players took the field with the highest fighting spirit, playing with aspiration and belief, creating a journey beyond initial expectations.
Mentioning the semi-final match against U23 China, Mr. Tran Anh Tu said that this is a costly but necessary lesson for young players. “That defeat reminds us that at this level, we are not allowed to relax for even a minute. Just a moment of distraction can be priced,” he frankly acknowledged.
What moved the head of the U23 Vietnam delegation the most was the way the whole team stood up after the defeat to enter the bronze medal match. “After the semi-finals, the players' spirits declined a lot. Coach Kim Sang-sik and I both said very clearly: just let you be sad for one night, the next morning you have to get up and do it again.
In the bronze medal match, I don't demand achievements, I just hope you play with all the fire in your hearts, so that fans and families in your hometown can be proud," he shared.
The match with U23 Korea, especially the 2 extra periods, left many strong emotions for Vice President Tran Anh Tu. He said that the image of 10 U23 Vietnam players resilient against the pressure of a stronger opponent is clear proof of spirit and bravery.
Dinh Bac's red card was regrettable, but it also became a catalyst for the whole team to unite, fight to the end and win on penalties.
Closing the tournament, VFF Vice President Tran Anh Tu emphasized the long-term significance of this achievement: "This bronze medal is not just a result, but a testament to the bravery and maturity of a whole generation of young players. This will be a very important foundation for Vietnamese football in the coming journey.
