Saudi Arabia, 20 January 2026 – One year has passed, and U23 Vietnam have recorded positive results whenever facing U23 China in friendly tournaments. For that very reason, coach Kim Sang-sik and his players must prepare even more carefully when they meet the same opponent again in an official match, the semi-final of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.
Specifically, U23 Vietnam drew 1-1 and won 1-0 in two invitations to compete in the Four-Nation Tournament held in China in March and November 2025. In the November 2025 encounter, U23 Vietnam travelled with essentially the same squad that is currently competing at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.
As a result, U23 China have a very clear understanding of the personnel and playing style built by coach Kim Sang-sik, from the preparation process for SEA Games 33 to the impressive continental performances of Nguyen Dinh Bac and his teammates.
Based on the journeys of both teams at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 so far, U23 Vietnam are clearly rated slightly higher than U23 China. However, this is only a reference factor, as the nature of a semi-final is completely different from earlier matches, where caution and solidity are always given higher priority with each round.
U23 China have scored only one goal but still reached the semi-finals, creating surprise and caution among all opponents, including U23 Vietnam. This is because the “victims” of coach Antonio Puche’s side have largely come from leading Asian football nations such as Australia and Uzbekistan.
The attacking quality of U23 China is not highly rated, but precisely because they do not attract much attention, they become more dangerous. In contrast, U23 Vietnam have not yet provided absolute reassurance in defence, even though goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien is in stable form. Both goals conceded in the quarter-final against U23 UAE came from crosses and headers, a lesson that captain Khuat Van Khang himself admitted the whole team must seriously learn from.
It would not be surprising if U23 Vietnam take the initiative in controlling possession and dictating the game. However, all statistics become meaningless if they cannot be converted into a victory. The biggest problem for Dinh Bac and his teammates is how to break through the goal of U23 China, a team that possess a disciplined defensive system and, in particular, the outstanding form of “super” goalkeeper Li Hao, who has made as many as 24 saves since the start of the finals.
Even so, Vietnamese fans still have every right to hope. After four matches, U23 Vietnam have scored eight goals, with goals coming from many different positions on the pitch. Even defenders such as Nguyen Hieu Minh and Pham Minh Phuc have scored, showing that coach Kim Sang-sik’s side do not rely too heavily on one individual, although Nguyen Dinh Bac remains the main attacking spearhead.
U23 Vietnam are now just one semi-final against U23 China away from matching the Thường Châu 2018 achievement of the previous generation. In a match where a single moment of individual brilliance can become the turning point, Dinh Bac and his teammates understand that opportunities do not come many times, and for history to repeat itself, they must play with both reason and heart.
Huyen Trang
Leave a Reply