How can we beat North Korea U23?

Commenting on the Vietnam U23 team's performance at the 2020 AFC U23 Championship, Live Sport Asia acknowledged that not conceding a single goal was a good achievement for the Vietnamese team. However, the Asian publication also reminded them: "To advance to the quarterfinals, a solid defense is not enough. They must learn how to score against their opponents."

The team is weaker than it was two years ago.

"Unlike in 2018, the Vietnam U23 team showed no improvement whatsoever. In the first match, they couldn't even attack effectively while their defense made numerous mistakes. The results on the field also reflect their true strength. In reality, this year's squad is much weaker than it was two years ago," commented Aljbakri, a writer for Live Sport Asia.

The North Korea U23 team also played with a 3-4-3 formation, similar to the Vietnam U23 team. Photo: AFC

To win against North Korea U23, the first thing is to forget the mindset that coach Ri Yu-il's players will give up because they have no more goals after two defeats. North Korea U23 coach Ri Yu-il declared that his team...They want to win against the reigning runner-up before leaving the tournament.

Jordan U23 coach Ahmed Abu Ismail commented: “North Korea U23 plays disciplined football and has good physical fitness, while the Vietnamese U23 players are very technically skilled.” This match allows North Korea U23 to play cautiously, waiting for opportunities, because Vietnam U23 needs goals, even two goals.

Expertise Corner

Unlike the UAE U23 and Jordan U23 teams, who only pressed from the midfield, coach Ri Yu-il's players often pressed to create pressure right from the opponent's half. North Korea U23 also used a 3-4-3 tactical formation, just like Vietnam U23. Taking advantage of their physical strength, the North Korean players played very aggressively; in the match against UAE U23, they committed 20 fouls and received 2 yellow cards.

When they needed a goal, they switched to a 3-5-2 formation with two attacking players H.Kim (23) and Ryang (15). These are players who tend to like to carry the ball and penetrate into the 16.5m area. In both matches against U23 UAE and Jordan, the North Korean players relentlessly attacked until the referee blew the final whistle. The equalizer in the match against U23 UAE was scored in the 90+1 minute.

Coach Park rotated the central midfield pairings of Hoang Duc and Duc Chien, then Quang Hai and Hoang Duc in the match against UAE U23, and Thanh Son and Duc Chien, and Duc Chien and Hoang Duc in the match against Jordan U23. However, it was clear that the midfielders lacked confidence in controlling the ball to organize coordinated attacks, resorting to numerous sideways and backward passes. This explains why the attacking line often lacked possession and the attacking pressure wasn't enough to trouble the opponent.

Save yourself

Coach Park will have to decide whether to make personnel changes or alter tactics? Photo: AFC

With the West Asian players being very strong and physically imposing, we are often at a disadvantage in one-on-one challenges. The North Korean U23 team is also quite strong, so our defenders need to rely more on long passes behind the opposing defense for players like Tien Linh and Duc Chinh to use their speed to win the ball.

Currently, the Vietnam U23 team lacks versatile wing-backs capable of both attacking and defending like Trong Hoang or Van Hau in a three-defender formation. Tan Tai and Thanh Tinh are playing purely as full-backs in a four-defender system, thus failing to put pressure on the opponent. Coach Park will have to decide whether to make substitutions or change tactics.