Vietnam U23 Coach Speaks Honestly After Finishing Bottom of the Table at China Tournament

Acting Coach Dinh Hong Vinh still praised the competitive spirit of Vietnam U23 despite the team finishing last at CFA Team China 2026, viewing this as an important stepping stone for the future.

Acting Head Coach Dinh Hong Vinh shared candid yet positive remarks after Vietnam U23 concluded their journey at the CFA Team China 2026 friendly tournament in China. Despite the youth team finishing bottom of the group, he still highly valued their fighting spirit and considered this a necessary preparation for the long road ahead.

In the final match held on March 31 evening, Vietnam U23 lost to China U23 0-1, thereby ending the tournament with only 1 point after 3 matches. Previously, the team drew 1-1 with North Korea U23 and suffered narrow defeats against Thailand U23 and China U23. This result clearly did not meet expectations, but provided valuable professional data for the coaching staff.

Evaluating the final match specifically, Mr. Vinh stated that the players had thorough preparation and entered the game with a determined spirit. He acknowledged the opponent's advantages such as home ground, physical fitness, and experience, yet Vietnam U23 maintained disciplined gameplay. According to him, the commendable point was that the whole team remained psychologically strong, persevered, and adhered to tactics until the end.

Looking broader, this strategist highlighted that Vietnam U23's greatest bright spot lies in their competitive attitude and dedication. Many U21 players making their first international appearance showed confidence, not being overshadowed by opponents stronger in physique and experience. The defensive system was also organized relatively well, especially in the draw with North Korea U23 despite very limited preparation time.

However, he candidly pointed out the team's biggest limitation lies in attacking capability. Vietnam U23 did not create many clear opportunities, their combination plays were still disjointed and lacked connection. According to the coaching staff's explanation, the main reason stems from late squad assembly and insufficient training time to build默契 between players.

Nevertheless, this tournament is still seen as an effective opportunity to test the squad as 23 out of 25 players were given playing chances. New elements, including overseas Vietnamese players, initially showed development potential and integration ability. For Dinh Hong Vinh, this is precisely the important foundation for Vietnam U23 to continue improving, aiming for long-term future goals.