South Korea U23 team fears a miracle from Kim Sang-sik ahead of the crucial match against Vietnam U23.
South Korean media acknowledged the immense pressure and warned their team about the strength of the Vietnamese U23 team ahead of tonight's third-place match at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship.
The third-place match of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship, taking place at 10:00 PM tonight (January 23rd), is not simply a contest for the bronze medal. For U23 South Korea, this is a test of character and a last chance to salvage their honor after a series of disappointing performances, while U23 Vietnam is brimming with enthusiasm to make new history.
Pressure is mounting on the young South Korean players.
Ahead of the match, the South Korean media is showing extreme caution regarding the Vietnamese U23 team. No longer the mindset of an overwhelming favorite, the South Korean press acknowledges that their team is facing tremendous pressure after recent unconvincing results.
Notably, the Osen newspaper published a candid analysis criticizing the lackluster performance of the South Korean U23 team after their loss to Japan's U21 team in the semi-finals. Conversely, the newspaper showed great respect for their opponents, calling the impressive journey of coach Kim Sang-sik's team in this year's tournament the "Kim Sang-sik miracle."
The rise of the Vietnam U23 team under Kim Sang-sik
Osen emphasized that the Vietnam U23 team is the only representative from Southeast Asia to have won all their group stage matches. This is considered a historic achievement, affirming the new position of Vietnamese football on the continental map.
Sharing the same view, the Korea JoongAng Daily noted that the Vietnam U23 team advanced to the Top 4 with a highly organized and disciplined playing style, absolutely not relying on luck. Meanwhile, the Yonhap news agency paid special attention to the influence of coach Kim Sang-sik. This strategist brought home a series of major titles such as the AFF Cup and the SEA Games 33 gold medal in a short period of time, transforming the Vietnam U23 team into an extremely difficult team to beat.
The battle to salvage the honor of the South Korean U23 team.
For the young South Korean players, the upcoming match is more of a matter of life or death than a mere third-place playoff. News1 commented that tonight's clash is the last chance for the players to "salvage their honor."
After the bitter disappointment in the semi-finals, facing a highly motivated Vietnam U23 team under the leadership of their compatriot Kim Sang-sik is a truly tough test of character. Korean fans are waiting to see if their team can overcome the psychological pressure to reaffirm their position or if they will once again succumb to their rising Southeast Asian rivals.
