The psychological pressure on South Korea U23 before their consolation match

According to a VNA reporter in Seoul, the Korean players are facing public pressure after losing 0-2 to Uzbekistan in their final group stage match, finishing the group with one win, one draw, and one loss. Thanks to Iran’s defeat to Lebanon in the same group, South Korea advanced to the quarterfinals as the second-placed team.

The 0-1 loss to Japan pushed the “Land of the Morning Calm” players into the third-place match. Although the team broke the early quarterfinal elimination curse seen in 2022 and 2024 tournaments, the defeat by a younger Japanese side has weighed heavily on coach Lee Min Sung’s squad’s mindset.

While the tournament’s outcome does not affect Olympic qualification and only influences seeding for the 2028 AFC U23 Asian Cup, securing a victory for honor remains highly significant.

In terms of advantages, South Korea U23 holds the upper hand over Vietnam U23 in many aspects. In their nine encounters, Korea has won six times, drawn three, and never lost to Vietnam U23. Nevertheless, in this tournament, Vietnam U23 has performed quite well, topping Group A with three convincing wins against Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, and host Saudi Arabia. Coach Kim Sang Sik’s team only lost 0-3 to China U23 in the semifinals.

Meanwhile, the South Korean public views their U23 team’s performance in this tournament as unconvincing. Coach Lee Min Sung’s tactics are criticized for lacking distinctiveness. The absence of key foreign-based players and ongoing injuries have put the coach in a difficult position.

If South Korea U23 loses to Vietnam U23 tonight, it will end their unbeaten streak against Vietnam that began at the 2006 Doha Asian Games after nearly 20 years. Such a result would heavily impact coach Lee Min Sung’s future. Therefore, a win now is not only for the bronze medal but also an effort to "heal" and restore the faith of the South Korean fans.