In the pivotal match against U17 UAE, U17 Vietnam, despite conceding an early goal, reversed the score to win, thereby completing the historic goal.
Sharing after the match, coach Cristiano Roland said: "First of all, I would like to send congratulations to all of us. The ticket to the next round and the World Cup spot is a worthy result for a persistent labor process that we started with this generation of players. I have tried to convey all the experiences I have so that they understand the fierceness of the continental arena.
For young players, each match is a lesson and they are showing outstanding maturity. I am really proud of my students; they have shown great form, especially the way we stood up after mistakes in the previous match. At this tournament, there are no weak opponents, but today we have proven that we deserve to be the winners".
Assessing the time when U17 Vietnam was led, the Brazilian coach said that the team had suffered a lot of psychological pressure but still showed remarkable bravery: "After the previous defeat, there were concerns about the team's psychology. The whole team was sad because we just broke the unbeaten streak. Entering this match with the pressure to win and conceding an early goal is a huge challenge.
However, the players have proven that they are ready in every aspect. Lessons from the past have helped them maintain composure, organization and an uncompromising fighting spirit to reverse the tide. That is the bravery that we are always looking for.
According to coach Cristiano Roland, the most important factor helping the team achieve success is team cohesion: "That is the strength of solidarity. Vietnam has many technical individuals, but I always emphasize that: individuals only shine when they are in a cohesive team.
We have built the team into a unified bloc, where all players are ready to support and run in place of their teammates. The bond like brothers in the family has helped them overcome physical barriers to maintain high intensity until the last minute.
Recognizing the progress of his students, he emphasized the psychological factor of competition: "The thing I cherish most is psychological stability. You have understood an important philosophy: mistakes are part of football, but how we react to them defines who we are.
Even the most veteran players sometimes make mistakes, so I always encourage them not to give up. The perseverance in spirit and the desire to do better every day is what I see most clearly in this generation of players. I believe that this result will be a big boost for the future of Vietnamese football".
Assessing the meaning of the World Cup ticket, the head coach of U17 Vietnam said that this is a result of the direction of youth football development.
“This is the result of the correct investment of the Vietnam Football Federation and the support of Mr. Chairman Tran Quoc Tuan. We need to understand that youth football needs patience and continuous support.
Looking at the professionalism and infrastructure here (Saudi Arabia), we clearly see the importance of creating the best conditions for children to compete. I hope this success will attract more attention and investment, because Vietnamese football has great potential and a strong love for football from the people," he said.
