U22 Vietnam won 1-0, Chinese expert said 20 years younger
U22 Vietnam won 1-0 at Panda Cup 2025; expert Dong Lu said Chinese players are 20 years behind in terms of skills, due to weak tactical thinking and individual technique.
Vietnam U22 won 1-0 right on the field of China U22 at Panda Cup 2025, and the biggest shock came from the frank comment of expert Dong Lu: "The skills of current Chinese players are 20 years behind Vietnam U22". According to him, the core reason lies in tactical thinking and individual technical foundation, not personnel or physical problems.
Backlash in China
Dong Lu’s statement caused a stir in the Chinese football community. He emphasized that the failure could not be blamed on physical strength or personnel, but stemmed from weak tactical thinking and limited individual technical foundation. “Vietnamese football is ahead of us, they play cohesively, proactively and have a clear identity. Meanwhile, Chinese players still lack confidence, play mechanically and are afraid of pressing,” Dong Lu commented.
Sohu quoted expert Dinh Huc with the same opinion: the defeat was the result of outdated training methods and fear of making mistakes, and at the same time called on domestic media to stop "making excuses" and look at the problem more realistically.
Tactical perspective: the identity of U22 Vietnam, the mechanical nature of U22 China
What emerged in the 90 minutes reflected a gap in football thinking. According to Dong Lu, U22 Vietnam showed a clear structure: proactively controlling the tempo, coordinating closely and maintaining identity in both phases with and without the ball. That is the “advancement” that Chinese football currently lacks.
On the other hand, U22 China showed timidity in their tactical actions: lack of confidence in execution, few solutions to escape pressing and many "formulaic" handling moments. When their competitive spirit is not strong enough, each phase of the game becomes more of a psychological test than a technical and tactical decision.
Pressing, initiative and tempo
The difference pointed out by the Chinese expert is the reluctance to press and the lack of initiative of the Chinese players. In a match of nerves, a half-beat delay in deciding whether to press or not press is enough to create space for the opponent to exploit. U22 Vietnam, as described by Dong Lu, is a team that knows what it wants and shows it through consistent organization.
Background and notable figures
- Score: U22 China 0-1 U22 Vietnam (Panda Cup 2025).
- Before the loss, U22 China had a 9-match unbeaten streak.
- This streak includes a win against U22 Korea and a draw against U22 Australia.
- For U22 Vietnam, this is the opening victory at the Panda Cup, creating positive psychological momentum.
“Brake” for U22 China's expectations
China U22 was once hailed as “the most talented generation of players in history”. The 0-1 defeat to Vietnam U22 brought them back to earth, showing that the gap between the two footballing nations is no longer tilted towards China as before. Looking from internal assessments, the problem lies not in individual results, but in training methods and measures of skill quality.
Meaning to U22 Vietnam
For U22 Vietnam, the victory at the Panda Cup is considered a favorable start for the 33rd SEA Games. It is also an affirmation of a brave and modern team, capable of forcing opponents in the region and continent to reconsider their approach against a team that is organized, has identity and knows how to control the rhythm of the match.
Above all, the feedback from Chinese experts highlighted the value of the victory: not just three points, but also recognition for the development of U22 Vietnam's playing style and personnel.
