Nguyen Dinh Bac: Vietnam U23's number one hope against China's steel wall.
With his outstanding performance, having been involved in 50% of the goals, Nguyen Dinh Bac is expected to break China's U23 clean sheet record in the Asian U23 semi-finals.
Nguyen Dinh Bac is emerging as the most important game-changing player for the Vietnam U23 team at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship. As the team prepares for a crucial semi-final match against China U23, the striker from Hanoi Police FC is seen as the key to breaking down the opponent's seemingly unbeaten defense.
The decisive spark of the attack.
In this year's tournament, the playing style of the Vietnam U23 team under coach Kim Sang-sik revolves around the game-changing abilities of Nguyen Dinh Bac. Statistics have proven the irreplaceable importance of the striker wearing the number 7 jersey. To date, Dinh Bac has directly contributed to 4 out of the team's 8 goals, including 3 goals and 1 assist.
His contribution to 50% of the total goals is clear evidence of his role as the "soul" of the team's attacking plays. This influence is no accident, as Dinh Bac has maintained remarkable progress since the SEA Games 33, affirming his position as one of the most outstanding young talents in the region today.
The race for the top scorer title.
With 3 goals in 4 matches, Nguyen Dinh Bac not only carries the hopes of the national team but is also directly competing for the Golden Boot award. Currently, he has the same record as strong contenders such as Ryunosuke Sato (Japan U23) and Amoori Faisal Mutshar Al Lami (Iraq U23).
Notably, the elimination of other leading scorers such as Leonardo Farah (U23 Lebanon) and Ali Al Azaizeh (U23 Jordan) has created a significant opportunity for Dinh Bac to break through. This striker's explosive performance has also given U23 Vietnam the second-strongest attack in the tournament (8 goals), second only to U23 Japan (11 goals). Dinh Bac's most potent weapon is his skillful individual technique and confident one-on-one ball handling, which frequently leaves opposing defenders bewildered.
The ultimate challenge from a defense that has yet to concede a goal.
The upcoming semi-final will be a clash between the sharp "drilling" of Dinh Bac and the solid "concrete block" that is the Chinese U23 team. Coach Kim Sang-sik's team's opponents boast a record-breaking defensive record, having not conceded a single goal throughout both the group stage and the quarter-final match.
The Chinese defense operates under iron discipline and prioritizes absolute safety in front of Li Hao's goal. To break through this deep defensive system, the Vietnam U23 team needs situations where they cut into the center from the flanks or quick one-touch passes in tight spaces – skills that are Đình Bắc's forte.
Coach Kim Sang-sik's tactical weapons
This striker's versatility allows the coaching staff flexibility in tactical formations. Dinh Bac can play well on both wings as well as in an attacking midfield role behind the central striker. In this tournament, coach Kim Sang-sik used him as a "super substitute" to take advantage of his freshness in the second half, but given the importance of the semi-final match, it is highly likely he will be given a starting spot to constantly pressure the opposing defense.
If Dinh Bac continues to maintain his killer instinct and current form, the Vietnam U23 team has every reason to believe in a victory, thereby recreating the glorious memories of Vietnamese youth football on the continental stage.
