U23 Viet Nam determined to recreate historic feat

The semi-final of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup between Viet Nam and China on January 20 will be a tactical contest between two contrasting footballing philosophies on display at this tournament.

U23 Viet Nam are widely expected to prevail in the semi-final.

On one side stand Viet Nam U23, boasting a perfect winning record, a proactive, varied, and possession-based style of play. On the other are China U23, the only team to keep a clean sheet in the group stage, yet having scored just one goal so far, relying heavily on a deep-lying and defence-oriented approach with numbers behind the ball

To secure a place in the final, U23 Viet Nam must win by staying true to the identity they have forged. Their greatest strength at this year’s tournament lies in their ability to impose themselves on matches.

Against opponents in the group stage and quarter-finals, Coach Kim Sang-sik’s players consistently dominated possession, combining quick and intricate passing, then suddenly accelerating the tempo to launch decisive attacks. They have also shown strong effectiveness in exploiting set-piece situations, particularly corners.

Against U23 China, this aspect becomes even more crucial, as the Chinese side’s collective defending has not been entirely convincing, with their resilience largely dependent on the outstanding form of goalkeeper Li Hao, who made 16 saves in the group stage - the highest tally in the tournament.

U23 China’s main strength lies in pace. Wang Yudong is regarded as a key attacking outlet capable of creating breakthroughs on fast counter-attacks. As their counter-attacking strategy relies heavily on physical strength, speed, and positional awareness, U23 Viet Nam must pay close attention to defensive cover and team spacing, especially when pushing forward in attack.

China are prepared to concede possession, drop deep, and wait for opponents’ mistakes. Therefore, U23 Viet Nam’s full-backs need to carefully judge when to join the attack, avoiding the exposure of space behind them for rapid breaks.

A clear advantage for U23 Viet Nam lies in midfield. U23 China will be without their key holding midfielder Yang Haoyu due to suspension. Having started all four matches, Yang played a vital role in controlling tempo and shielding the defence. His absence forces China to alter their midfield structure, potentially causing disruption in the team.

With experienced players such as Dinh Bac, Thai Son, and Van Khang, U23 Viet Nam possess the quality to control the middle of the pitch, circulate the ball effectively and stretch the opponent’s defensive block. This will also serve as a foundation for cutting off counter-attacks at source.

Coach Kim Sang-sik’s side enter the semi-final with an important advantage, having enjoyed one extra day of rest and with no players suspended, while U23 China have just endured 120 minutes and a penalty shoot-out against Uzbekistan. This allows Kim Sang-sik to continue with his familiar tactical approach: controlling possession, setting the tempo early, and accelerating once the opposition begins to tire.

The 3–2 victory over the UAE demonstrated that U23 Viet Nam are not only capable of controlling matches but also possess multiple avenues to goals. So far, aside from Dinh Bac’s three goals, four other players have also found the net, ranging from defenders to midfielders and forwards. Coach Kim Sang-sik’s substitutions to adjust the team’s approach have been widely praised for their sharpness, a key factor that could once again prove decisive against a densely packed defensive opponent.

U23 Viet Nam have built growing confidence through successive victories and now enter the semi-final with the mindset of a team that has already exceeded initial expectations. There is hope that they will deliver a performance befitting a side which is maturing on the continental stage.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference, head coach Kim Sang-sik said: “U23 Viet Nam are ready to face a new challenge with thorough preparation and strong belief in our collective strength. The whole team is determined to push beyond our limits in pursuit of victory.”

On the U23 China bench, head coach Antonio Puche struck a cautious tone: “U23 Viet Nam have the advantage of an extra day’s rest. They are well organised and transition very quickly, so we must remain highly focused when they go on the attack.”

NDO