Vietnam U20: Lessons from Failure and Redemption Opportunity at Asian U20 Qualifiers

During Tuesday afternoon's training session at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center, head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi repeatedly reminded his players about maintaining team shape when facing North Korea U20. "They are strong physically and in the air. We must be smarter, not just launch long balls aimlessly," he told his assistants. But what caught my attention was not the familiar instructions, but the way Ikeuchi emphasized the phrase "experience and existing data" when discussing opponent research. A young Japanese coach with modern football philosophy, having to rely on what's "available" instead of a systematic scouting network? That says a lot about the current state of Vietnamese youth football. Vietnam U20 is entering the 2026 Asian U20 qualifiers with a special mindset. After the regrettable failure at the Southeast Asian U19 Championship earlier this year, our youth team stands before a redemption opportunity, but also faces considerable pressure. Vietnam U20's group includes North Korea, Palestine, and Iran - all opponents with superior physical and technical foundations. In this context, coach Yutaka Ikeuchi's decision to call up players with international experience like Nguyen Le Phat and Dinh Quang Kiet is seen as a reasonable addition. Both have proven their abilities at the national team level, with Dinh Quang Kiet having won a bronze medal with Vietnam U23 at the Asian U23 Championship, while Nguyen Le Phat has delivered impressive performances in the national team shirt. However, the biggest question is not whether the squad is strong enough, but whether the lessons from the U19 Southeast Asian failure have truly been learned and applied thoroughly. That failure was not just a bad result, but a wake-up call about how Vietnamese youth football approaches opponents with superior physique and physical strength. Looking at the 23-player squad registered for the qualifiers, coach Yutaka Ikeuchi's philosophy is clear: prioritize experience and solidity. The presence of Nguyen Le Phat in midfield and Dinh Quang Kiet in defense creates a solid framework, but simultaneously raises questions about the balance between "ripe" players and younger, less experienced ones. Following the team's training sessions, I noticed an important detail: Coach Ikeuchi frequently requires players to maintain team spacing of 25-30 meters, a reasonable figure for a counter-attacking defensive style. But what's concerning is that he has to rely on "experience and existing data" to study opponents, rather than having a professional scouting system. In modern football, where every team has dedicated data analysts, lacking opponent information can be a fatal weakness. Consider the match against North Korea U20. This is a team famous for physical play, aerial duels, and fierce fighting spirit. Without specific data on how they attack, their set-piece routines, or their defensive organization, Vietnam U20's preparation will be based on guesswork. This explains why Coach Ikeuchi keeps emphasizing being "smart" and "not launching long balls aimlessly" - he's trying to build a style based on control and proactive defense, rather than directly confronting the opponent's strength. But is that enough? Experience from the U19 Southeast Asian failure shows that when facing physically superior teams, Vietnam U20 often struggles with aerial balls and set-piece situations. This is a systemic issue that cannot be solved simply by adding a few experienced players to the squad. Another notable point is the over-reliance on Nguyen Le Phat in midfield. This player is expected to dictate the tempo of matches, but if he gets marked out or injured, can the younger players adequately replace him? In a short tournament with a dense schedule (3 matches in 9 days), depending on one individual is a significant risk. I recall a conversation with a Korean scout at a youth tournament in Southeast Asia. He said: "Vietnamese youth football has good technique, but you often lack patience in building play. Under pressure, you tend to rush long passes or long shots, instead of keeping the ball and controlling the tempo." That observation probably still holds true today. Let's talk about Dinh Quang Kiet - the player who won a bronze medal with Vietnam U23 at the Asian U23 Championship. This player brings solidity to the defense, but more importantly, his leadership ability on the pitch. In a young team, having someone who has experienced high-stakes matches helps younger players gain confidence. However, the question is: can Dinh Quang Kiet adapt to the U20 team's style, which differs from the U23? As for Nguyen Le Phat, expected to be the "conductor" in midfield. With international experience, he has good game-reading ability and makes precise decisions. But in a youth tournament where speed and physicality are often prioritized, can he keep up with the pace? This is a question only reality can answer. Looking at the group, North Korea U20 is certainly the toughest opponent. They are known for disciplined play, abundant physical strength, and tireless fighting spirit. Meanwhile, Iran U20 has good technical foundations and sharp attacking players. Palestine U20, though rated lower, is not an easy opponent either. With 3 matches in 9 days, Vietnam U20 must prepare thoroughly both physically and mentally. A notable point is how Coach Ikeuchi builds his style. He is not a fan of expansive attacking football, but leans toward solidity and efficiency. This may suit the current context, where the team needs to prioritize results over performance. But can this style make a difference against physically stronger opponents? I remember a match of Vietnam U19 at the Southeast Asian tournament, where we lost to a physically superior team due to mistakes in set-piece situations. That was a costly lesson, and I hope this time the team has better solutions. Beyond the two mentioned players, Vietnam U20's squad also features notable names like Tran Gia Hung, considered one of the most promising young midfielders in Vietnamese football today. With his dribbling skills and tactical awareness, Gia Hung could be an important backup option if Nguyen Le Phat faces pressure from opponents. However, his lack of international experience could be a weakness. Meanwhile, the defense led by Dinh Quang Kiet will be key to the team's success. But can the other young defenders coordinate effectively with him? This is an important question, because in modern football, the defense must operate as a unified block, not rely on a single individual. Another crucial factor is fitness. With a dense match schedule, maintaining physical condition is a major challenge. Coach Ikeuchi needs reasonable rotation plans, but with a squad lacking depth, this could be a difficult puzzle. In this context, having experienced players like Nguyen Le Phat and Dinh Quang Kiet to stabilize match tempo is an advantage. I have spent over 20 years following Vietnamese youth football, from my days as a reporter for Bao Bong Da newspaper. I have witnessed many generations of young players mature, many youth teams go through ups and downs. What I've noticed is: Vietnamese youth football always has potential, but we often lack patience and proper investment. We often expect immediate results, forgetting that sustainable development takes time. In this context, having experienced players like Nguyen Le Phat and Dinh Quang Kiet in the U20 squad is a positive signal. They can be leaders, inspiring younger players. But the key is using them wisely, not relying solely on them while neglecting the development of other young players. There's a counterintuitive perspective few mention: bringing too many experienced players into the U20 team could create imbalance in the dressing room. Younger, less experienced players may feel overshadowed and afraid to express their personalities. In a team, combining experience and youth is necessary, but if the gap is too large, it can create "two tiers" within the team, affecting collective spirit. Moreover, Coach Ikeuchi's reliance on "experience and existing data" could be a double-edged sword. While he can utilize what's already known about opponents, lacking updated data could leave the team surprised by tactical changes from opponents. Modern football demands flexibility and rapid adaptation, which can only be achieved with an effective scouting system. Few realize that Vietnam U20's dependence on experienced players could create a "generational gap" within the team. Younger, less-played players may not have development opportunities if they're always on the bench. This could affect the long-term development of Vietnamese youth football, as we need to create a generation of well-rounded players, not just rely on a few outstanding individuals. Furthermore, Coach Ikeuchi having to rely on "experience and existing data" reveals a systemic issue in Vietnam's youth training. While developed football nations like Japan and South Korea have professional scouting and data analysis systems, we are still in the early stages. This not only affects immediate results but also acts as a barrier to sustainable development. Looking at other football nations in the region, we can clearly see the difference in approach. Japan and South Korea have built systematic youth training programs over decades, with strong investment in facilities, coaching staff, and talent identification. Meanwhile, Vietnam is still perfecting this system. This difference is reflected not only in match results but also in the quality of trained players. A typical example is how Japan builds playing styles for youth teams. They always maintain a consistent football philosophy from youth levels to the national team, helping players adapt easily when called up. In contrast, Vietnam still lacks a clear football philosophy for youth teams, leading to inconsistency in how teams play at different levels. In this context, Coach Ikeuchi being tasked to lead Vietnam U20 is an ambitious choice by the VFF. He is a Japanese coach carrying the modern football philosophy of the land of cherry blossoms. However, does he have enough time and resources to apply those philosophies to Vietnamese youth football? This is an important question, because change cannot happen overnight. I recall an interview with a Korean coach who once worked in Vietnam. He said: "Vietnamese football has great potential, but you need to be patient. You cannot build a strong football nation in just a few years. You need a long-term plan and proper investment." Those words remain valid today. One thing I want to share: we should not place too much expectation on Vietnam U20's results in this qualifying round. Instead, we should look at what the team can learn from this tournament. Regardless of results, matches against North Korea, Iran, and Palestine will be valuable lessons for young players. The key is they need to know how to extract those lessons and apply them to their development. Looking at Vietnam U20, I can't help but think of the saying: "Ghosts don't disappear, they just change jersey colors." The problems Vietnamese youth football faces are not new; they have existed for a long time and will continue unless we make fundamental changes. This Asian U20 qualifying round is an opportunity to reflect and take concrete action. Do we have the courage to face the truth? The answer lies within us. Another important point is that developing young players isn't just about technical training, but also about developing tactical thinking and adaptability. In modern football, intelligent players who can read the game and make quick decisions have a huge advantage. This requires a training system that not only focuses on physical and technical aspects but also develops football intelligence in young players. Vietnam U20 has players with the qualities to develop in this direction, but they need to be given conditions to reach their full potential. This depends not only on the coach but also on the youth training systems of clubs where young players train daily. There's a perspective I want to share: we should not focus too much on finding individual "stars," but rather on building a strong collective. In football, a united, well-organized team can defeat a team with many outstanding individuals but lacking cohesion. This is especially important for youth teams, where individual development must go hand in hand with collective development. The 2026 Asian U20 qualifiers will be an important milestone in the development of Vietnamese youth football. Regardless of results, the most important thing is that we need a long-term vision and systematic investment for the future. Only then can Vietnamese football rise to continental levels and compete sustainably with top football nations. Looking at Vietnam U20, I remember the saying: "Numbers don't lie, but the people reading them can." We can look at statistics, match results, but the key is understanding what's behind those numbers. This Asian U20 qualifying round will give us new numbers, but can we read and understand them accurately? That's a question every Vietnamese football fan needs to answer for themselves. Looking at Vietnam U20 at the 2026 Asian U20 qualifiers, I can't help but think: "When the pandemic knocked, football realized it was naked." The pandemic exposed the weaknesses of world football, and the failures of Vietnamese youth football are also exposing our weaknesses. But the key is whether we have the courage to acknowledge and change. The answer lies within us.