The advantage of U23 Vietnam
Until the last match of Group A, few people thought that U23 Vietnam was the team with the biggest advantage. With 6 points and a goal difference of +3, coach Kim Sang-sik's team is leading Group A, competing for tickets to continue with host U23 Saudi Arabia and U23 Jordan. These two teams have only had 3 points with a goal difference of 0 and -1 respectively.
Based on the tournament regulations and related indicators, U23 Vietnam will definitely advance if they lose to Saudi Arabia by less than 3 goals. In the event of a 0-3 defeat and Jordan winning against Kyrgyzstan, U23 Vietnam will be eliminated. More safely, if they do not lose in the final match, Khuat Van Khang and his teammates will naturally advance.
However, with the situation in Group B currently when U23 Japan is too strong and soon won a ticket to the next round with the top spot in the group, U23 Vietnam has begun to think about winning the top spot in Group A to avoid this opponent in the quarterfinals. A draw against Saudi Arabia is not beyond the reach of U23 Vietnam, especially when Mr. Kim Sang-sik's team has the right to decide for themselves.
In the opposite direction, U23 Saudi Arabia is facing much criticism after a bitter 2-3 defeat to U23 Jordan, causing them to face the risk of being eliminated from the group stage. Even the 1-0 victory over U23 Kyrgyzstan was very unconvincing when the opponent played with fewer players, but still caused many difficulties for the home team.
Not yet sure about the ticket to continue, U23 Saudi Arabia is forced to focus all their strength on the attacking front with heavy pressure. From a psychological perspective and position before the ball rolls, it is U23 Vietnam that takes the initiative and can completely choose how to approach the match according to their wishes.
Focus on the defensive front
In general, U23 Saudi Arabia has not met the expectations of fans in the previous tournament held at home. Quite surprisingly, the representative of West Asia attacked not too sharply, and the defense continuously made mistakes. In the previous match, if U23 Jordan had been luckier, Saudi Arabia could have conceded 4-5 goals.
The difference of Saudi Arabia comes from a few individuals with high breakthrough potential. In the past match, Rakan Khalid made fans somewhat reassured. He can still shine if he receives positive support from his teammates. This team can accelerate the pace of the match from the first minutes.
Coach Biagio understands that every minute passes, Saudi Arabia's chances become narrower if they don't have time to score. Therefore, the pressure on U23 Vietnam in the final match will be completely different from what they had experienced before.
Based on reality, coach Kim Sang-sik must have his own force plan. Of course, U23 Vietnam must prioritize using the framework that has worked well in the first two matches and personnel adjustments at this time may not be necessary. However, the harsh schedule of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship has made many players tired.
In such circumstances, the role of central midfielder Nguyen Thai Son becomes even more important. The player born in 2003 possesses abundant physical resources, and the skills to escape the encirclement of the opponent in midfield are also highly appreciated. He is a particularly important shield in front of Tran Trung Kien's goal. Even 3 young stars such as: Nhat Minh, Ly Duc and Hieu Minh in the defense will depend heavily on Thai Son.
With just one point to advance, U23 Vietnam will have to play football in a fierce style, causing many difficulties for U23 Saudi Arabia. Coach Kim Sang-sik's "magic" is expected to be developed once again in the next match.
The match between U23 Vietnam and U23 Saudi Arabia takes place at 11:30 PM on January 12.
