News Roundup 10/12: Vietnam U22 determined to win against Malaysia

Vietnam U22 affirmed they would not play for a draw against Malaysia U22 in the final match of Group B in the men's football tournament at the 33rd SEA Games, amidst Malaysian media listing Nguyen Dinh Bac as the biggest threat. Conversely, Malaysia U22 also aimed for a full three points, despite only needing a draw to advance according to their calculations.

The highlight of Group B: A fight for victory from both sides.

Midfielder Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong affirmed that the Vietnam U22 team is aiming for only one goal: victory against Malaysia U22: “We are definitely aiming for a win against Malaysia, not a draw. The Vietnam U22 team must be highly determined. In the past few days, my teammates and I have shown great unity and determination.”

On the Malaysian U22 side, midfielder Haykal Danish Haizon stated that the team would not opt ​​for a draw: “Our goal is to win. Even if a draw is enough, we still want to win. The mission is to win, to restore our pride.”

Malaysian media warns of the growing power of Nguyen Dinh Bac.

Ahead of the crucial match, the New Straits Times (Malaysia) highlighted the form and influence of Nguyen Dinh Bac: “The U22 Malaysia team faces the challenge of U22 Vietnam, a team that has won the SEA Games twice and is being further strengthened by the impressive form of Nguyen Dinh Bac. This winger recently scored two goals against Laos and has consistently shown his dangerous potential in both the youth and senior national teams.”

Judging from the two statements, the encounter promises to be fast-paced and proactive from the start: U22 Vietnam wants to assert its position, while U22 Malaysia is determined to win to maintain momentum and control over their own destiny.

Indonesia shocked by defeat, media harshly criticizes.

The 0-1 defeat against the Philippines U22 team has put the Indonesian U22 team in a difficult position and ignited a wave of criticism. According to Bola newspaper and experts from Indonesia, three weaknesses have been specifically identified:

• Coach Indra Sjafri has been criticized for his conservative playing style, lack of variety, and slow reaction when things get stuck.
• The defense was careless and systematically unfocused – the direct cause of the conceded goal.
• The attacking line, led by Rafael Struick, was disappointing, wasting opportunities despite superior ball control.

Concerns about a potential draw between Vietnam U22 and Malaysia U22.

Currently, both U22 Vietnam and U22 Malaysia have 3 points after the first round. Theoretically, if the two teams draw in the final round on Thursday (December 11th), both will likely advance, regardless of U22 Indonesia's efforts. CNN Indonesia expressed concern with the headline: "If U22 Indonesia loses, Vietnam and Malaysia could play 'hands-on'."

The Vietnamese women's team is exhausted from traveling during the SEA Games 33.

The organization of the event received many complaints, particularly regarding transportation and nutrition. With narrow roads and frequent traffic jams, the Vietnamese women's team had to spend an average of 1.5 hours each way during peak hours; on some days, the total travel time reached 4-5 hours, significantly impacting recovery after training.

Overview

Before the final round, the intensity of Group B was heightened by the ambition to win from both U22 Vietnam and U22 Malaysia, the peak form of Nguyen Dinh Bac, and the pressure to perform on U22 Indonesia after their shock defeat against U22 Philippines. The balance could shift in an instant, but proactiveness and composure in on-field decisions would determine who qualified for the semi-finals.