U22 Vietnam vs U22 Philippines: A Test of Courage (15:30, December 15, Live on VTV2)
U22 Vietnam steps into the semifinalSEA Games 33after just managing to regain their status as a title contender by beating U22 Malaysia. However, their opponent U22 Philippines, despite not looking like a championship favorite, is the tournament’s most unpredictable team: the only squad to keep a clean sheet after the group stage, winning both matches against Myanmar and Indonesia, and playing with a "nothing to lose" spirit.
Therefore, it is fair to say that U22 Philippines represents a significant challenge for Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team.
Another familiar opponent before
U22 Philippines is not unfamiliar. They were the rivals of U23 Vietnam in the semifinals of the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship. At that time, U23 Philippines reached the semifinals as a second-place team, but six months later, the team's appearance has transformed.
In a rather tough group, Philippines secured two wins against Indonesia and Myanmar to top the group. Australian coach Garrath McPherson has built a compact, structured playing style with proactive defending. The clearest difference is in how they control space: instead of just clearing the ball, Philippines organizes layered defense and is ready to press from midfield to break the opponent’s rhythm.
They play with an almost fixed lineup, changing only one position in the two group matches, proving their stability and tactical understanding. Goalkeeper Nicholas Guimaraes, originally from Brazil, is the mainstay: good positioning, quick reflexes, and nearly flawless.
In front of him is a tall, solid defensive line, and the midfield features Sandro Reyes, a La Masia-trained player who acts as the central orchestrator. Up front, Banatao Otu’s speed and sharpness force any defense to be cautious.
With a core of five players living abroad, Philippines’ semifinal berth is not by chance but because they know who they are and how to play. Without the burden of fearing defeat, the young island team has become freer and more dangerous.
Although this is their first time reaching a SEA Games semifinal, it cannot be said that U22 Philippines lacks experience. Over more than a decade, Philippine football has changed a lot, even if not very quickly.
U22 Philippines (in white) is quite different from their encounter with U22 Vietnam at the 2025 Southeast Asian U23 Championship, but the winning chances still lean towards Dinh Bac and his teammates. Photo: Tuan Pham
Still, timing matters
One very noticeable feature of the teams directly led by Coach Kim Sang Sik is the timing factor. Overall, these teams do not always play outstandingly and often have doubts about their ability to explode, but in one way or another, Kim Sang Sik’s players always overcome pressure at crucial moments to complete their tasks in the most satisfying way.
That is the "skill" of the Korean coach, who now faces the opportunity to play a third-place final in 2025, using personnel in a way that is both daring, clever, and skillful to meet tactical demands for each specific match.
U22 Vietnam finished the group stage at the top of Group B, impressively beating Malaysia and conceding only one goal. From the perspective of the win over U22 Malaysia, tactical organization has improved, especially in high pressing and ball distribution between the wings.
If there is a player who can break through the Philippines’ steel structure, it would be Dinh Bac. This forward is strong in aerial duels and positioning, and also has spatial awareness, knowing when and where to appear. He previously scored against the Philippines in the Southeast Asian U23 Championship.
In this rematch, Dinh Bac will be the focal point in wing attacks, a tactic Vietnam can exploit against the tall but slow-moving defense of their opponent. Additionally, his pressing ability is crucial to apply pressure on the Philippines’ defense, forcing them into mistakes in tight passing situations.
Facing a U22 Philippines that knows themselves and their opponents well, this will be a tough match for U22 Vietnam, especially as the opponent proactively plays early defense and counterattack. Vietnam will certainly control possession more, but this will be a game of tactics and patience. Philippines knows that keeping the score at 0-0 for as long as possible will increase pressure on U22 Vietnam, who are not very strong in scoring.
If Vietnam scores early, everything will become easier because Philippines will have to push forward. But if the score remains level into the second half, it could turn into a physical battle where concentration and squad depth decide the winner. U22 Vietnam is rated higher, but Philippines have three more days of rest, a detail not to be overlooked at this intense stage.
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