Men's football at SEA Games 2025: A smooth start expected for U22 Vietnam

03/12/2025 10:40:00 PlaymakerHub

Men's football at SEA Games 33 features only 9 teams divided into 3 groups. After the group stage, only the 3 group winners and the best runner-up advance to the semifinals. Thus, for U22 Vietnam to progress, they must finish first in Group B. Their journey to reclaim the SEA Games gold medal starts with the match against U22 Laos this afternoon.

Commentator Vu Quang Huy predicts that U22 Vietnam will have a smooth start atSEA Games 33: "Coach Kim Sang Sik has opted for stability with long-term planning for SEA Games 33. However, this does not mean the U22 Vietnam squad is rigid or inflexible.

With thorough preparation and a carefully planned strategy, U22 Vietnam under Coach Kim Sang Sik is showing strong determination to defend their position in the regional competition. Although he admits to 'losing sleep' over player selections, the Korean coach’s choices are not surprising. Coach Kim Sang Sik’s philosophy remains unchanged: consistency and stability.

The story doesn’t end there; Coach Kim Sang Sik also demands high versatility. Against familiar Southeast Asian opponents, U22 Vietnam needs 'variants' to create surprises or unpredictability. At least one-third of the 23 players sent to Thailand meet this requirement."

Before SEA Games 33, Coach Kim Sang Sik announced a clear strategy for U22 Vietnam, emphasizing the importance of the opening match against U22 Laos. He stated that the goal is not only to win but also to secure a large goal difference to gain an advantage in tie-breakers.

Looking ahead to this afternoon’s game, commentator Vu Quang Huy assesses: "U22 Laos is the first opponent that Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team must overcome. To prepare forSEA Games 33, the squad from the Land of a Million Elephants mainly consists of players who recently faced the Vietnam national team in the Asian Cup qualifiers on November 19. Although they didn’t cause an upset, the Laos team, mostly composed of U22 players, challenged the Vietnam national team.

Commentator Quang Huy forecasts that U22 Vietnam will win against U22 Laos, though the score margin might not be large. Photo: Tuan Pham

Since taking charge of Laos’ national teams, Coach Ha Hyeok Jun has brought a positive change, focusing mainly on youth football development. It seems he has also thoroughly analyzed the philosophy of his compatriot, Coach Kim Sang Sik. Therefore, although not the top contender in Group B, U22 Laos should not be underestimated.

Lao football has been evolving for some time but rather slowly. There were moments it seemed to improve, but then everything reverted to old patterns. Facing U22 Laos now still requires respect for the opponent. However, with Vietnam’s current young squad, we remain confident in a victory for Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team."

Commentator Vu Quang Huy comments: "I think the opening match just needs to go smoothly, no need to overexert. Our goal is to beat U22 Laos and U22 Malaysia. Winning these two matches will secure the top spot in the group and a place in the semifinals. Saying ‘beat U22 Laos’ sounds modest. I expect U22 Vietnam to win comfortably by 2 or 3 goals, even a 2-0 win would be good enough.

It’s also important to remember that with only 9 teams divided into 3 groups, there are few matches. If reaching the final, a team only plays 4 matches. In fact, U22 Vietnam has up to 8 days rest between two group matches. Honestly, we haven’t seen explosive or dazzling performances from Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team yet. However, with careful and meticulous planning, he is doing well."

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