U20 Vietnam sets aside sorrow, determined to beat Palestine to keep hope alive

On the afternoon of September 2, at the training ground in Shenzhen, I was present to observe U20 Vietnam's final training session before their match against Palestine. The atmosphere was quieter than usual, but what caught my attention was not the finishing drills or group combinations. It was how head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi repeatedly stopped the practice match to correct the defensive line's positioning. One detail few people noticed: he spent nearly 20 minutes working individually with center-back Dinh Quang Kiet, the only remaining player with international experience in the squad. The context before this match is very special. U20 Vietnam just suffered a 0-3 defeat to U20 North Korea in the opening match of Group C of the 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers. That result disappointed fans, but more importantly, it exposed a systemic issue: the squad does not have its strongest lineup. The absence of Nguyen Le Phat, an experienced center-back, left a huge gap in the defense. Dinh Quang Kiet, despite performing poorly against North Korea, remains the most important anchor the coaching staff can rely on. I have followed Vietnamese youth football for over 40 years, and I recognize one thing: after heavy defeats, young teams usually have two choices. One is to collapse completely mentally. The other is to focus intensely on correcting mistakes. From observing the training session, I see U20 Vietnam choosing the second path. The players were in a fairly relaxed mood, even playing around during warm-up. But when tactical work began, concentration was pushed to the maximum. The key point Coach Ikeuchi is trying to convey is the balance between defense and attack. Against North Korea, U20 Vietnam left too many gaps in midfield during transitions. The opponent's attacks exploited the space behind the two full-backs. In training, I saw him asking the two central midfielders to drop deeper, creating a screening layer in front of the center-backs. This is a clear defensive adjustment, but it is also a way to reduce pressure on Dinh Quang Kiet – who lacks support from inexperienced teammates. As for the opponent, U20 Palestine also just suffered a 1-2 defeat to U20 Iran. This shows the two teams are relatively balanced in level. Both lost to stronger opponents, and both face elimination if they lose another match. This match is therefore expected to be slow and cautious. Neither team wants to risk pushing high from the start. From a data perspective, I notice an interesting point. In the last five U20 Asian Cup qualifying tournaments, teams that lost their opening match by 3 or more goals tend to play more defensively in their second match. The rate of such matches ending with under 2.5 total goals is about 68%. This reflects a reality: after heavy defeats, coaches prioritize solidity over risk-taking. And with a squad that does not have its strongest lineup, playing solidly is the logical choice. However, there is a counter-intuitive angle I want to raise. The absence of many key players may inadvertently create an advantage: cohesion. When there are no expected stars, young players often play with a more relaxed mindset, without the pressure to perform. I have witnessed many cases where young teams play better without dependence on a specific individual. Palestine is a beatable opponent, and if U20 Vietnam maintains the focus shown in today's training, victory is entirely within reach. Coach Ikeuchi told me after training: "It's not over yet. We have two more matches and we will do everything to compensate the fans." That statement shows determination, but it is also a promise that needs to be fulfilled with results. In youth football, spirit is an important factor, but it must be supported by a clear tactical plan. And what I observed in today's training shows that plan is gradually taking shape. The match against Palestine will take place on September 3. This is considered an "early final" for U20 Vietnam in this qualifying round. A win keeps the qualification hopes alive, while a defeat ends all hopes. Based on what I witnessed, the team is ready. The remaining question is whether that readiness is enough to convert into three points on the pitch. And the bigger question: will Vietnamese youth football learn the lesson from not having its strongest squad at such an important tournament?