Nearly caused an upset against Qatar, the Vietnam U23 coach speaks candidly

After the 0-1 defeat to U23 Qatar on October 9 in Abu Dhabi (UAE), acting coach Đinh Hồng Vinh gave an honest evaluation of his team's display and highlighted two areas requiring quick improvement.

Vietnam U23 took the field in a 3-4-3 formation with goalkeeper Văn Bình; three center backs Lý Đức, Văn Hà, Bảo Long; central midfield duo Quốc Cường – Văn Trường; wing players Thành Đạt – Anh Quân; and the attacking trio Công Phương, Viktor Lê, Quốc Việt.

Although controlling 63% of the ball and creating several clear chances, coach Đinh Hồng Vinh's team still suffered a narrow defeat due to missed opportunities. Strikers Viktor Lê, Quốc Cường, and Văn Thuận all failed to convert golden chances, while the defense lost focus in the 75th minute, allowing U23 Qatar to score from a set piece, resulting in a 0-1 final score.

In his post-match comments, interim coach Đinh Hồng Vinh praised the spirit and confident play of his players: "The players boldly executed the tactics set by the coaching staff. Defensively, goalkeeper Văn Bình and center back Lý Đức performed effectively. The central midfield pair Quốc Cường – Văn Trường controlled the midfield well, contested fiercely, and distributed the ball wisely. The attack also created numerous chances through flexible movement, continuously pressuring the U23 Qatar defense.”

Part of the reason was that some club players had limited playing time, affecting their fitness. Additionally, the whole team had just undergone a long journey and only had a light training session before the match, combined with time zone changes and disrupted biological rhythms, impacting their physical condition.

Although the result was not as hoped, Vietnam U23’s performance sent positive signals regarding their fighting spirit, confidence, and cohesion in play. This match also provided the coaching staff with more basis to evaluate player abilities, especially with 8 key players currently in the National Team.

According to the plan, Vietnam U23 will have a second friendly match against U23 Qatar on October 13. This will again be an opportunity for coach Đinh Hồng Vinh and his staff to refine the squad as they prepare for SEA Games 33 and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship.