Lineups to start
Pre-match information
After two matches, the Vietnamese women's team has 3 points and is temporarily at the top of the group of third-placed teams with good results. However, the competitive situation became more tense when Uzbekistan won a 4-0 victory over Bangladesh in Group B, thereby creating more pressure on the teams competing for a ticket to the next round. Therefore, the result in the last match is very important for the opportunities of Huynh Nhu and her teammates.
In theory, the Vietnamese women's team needs at least a draw against Japan to definitely maintain hope of going further. In case of defeat, the team still has a chance if they only lose by a minimal margin and wait for favorable results in other groups. However, if they lose by a large margin, the possibility of going further for the Vietnamese women's team will become very fragile.
However, the task of winning points against Japan is not easy at all. The team from East Asia is one of the leading forces in Asian women's football, possessing a fast, technical playing style and a balanced force. Although they have already won tickets to the quarter-finals, the Japanese women's team is still considered superior in class compared to the Vietnamese women's team.
Against a strong opponent, it is likely that the Vietnamese women's team will choose a defensive counter-attacking style of play to limit pressure. Tactical discipline, defense organization ability as well as taking advantage of opportunities will be key factors if coach Mai Duc Chung's team wants to create a surprise.
In addition, this tournament also marks the rejuvenation process of the Vietnamese women's team when many young players are given the opportunity to play with experienced pillars such as Huynh Nhu. Some players such as Thanh Nha, Van Su or Duong Thi Van had physical problems in the previous match, but the break between the two matches is expected to help them recover better.
In the context of an unfavorable group situation, the Vietnamese women's team still sets a goal to play with the highest determination against Japan, in order to maintain hope of advancing at the 2026 Women's Asian Cup.
