U23, how do you love your country to be able to do that?

Young author Du Phong (real name Nguyen Tuan Trung) asked the U23 Vietnam team: "How do you love your country?".

Please post the original article by Du Phong.

There are moments when I see them, I really shiver and wonder what they were thinking at that time?

I saw the moment Duy Manh was hit in the face by the opponent's ball, the kick was so strong that he was dizzy, blood was flowing everywhere. But he didn't seem to care about that, he continued to fight, brave and courageous to the end.

I saw Tien Dung bleeding from his mouth, the dark red blood falling onto the white snow. He tried to hold it in, pretending not to notice so as not to have to leave the field. The referee discovered it and forced him to go off the field to be treated, he reluctantly grimaced and ran off. Less than a minute later, our defender reappeared in front of the goal and again took another powerful shot, right in the face.

I saw the moment Duc Huy played the entire time of regular time and extra time, exhausted to the point of having cramps in his legs and being unable to walk anymore, having to be carried off on a stretcher. A moment later, when he felt a little better, he went back onto the field and ran tirelessly and even more enthusiastically than before.

I don't understand what motivation makes people forget their own pain and rush forward like that, except for the belief in victory and national pride?

I saw the moment Xuan Truong, after finishing the penalty shootout, immediately ran to get his coat because he was worried that his teammates would be cold while standing in the sub-zero weather. At that moment, I felt that they were not a football team with different hometowns, but they were blood brothers, born from the same house called the Country.

Only real brothers care for each other like that. I wonder if it is because of this solidarity that U23 Vietnam has stood side by side to write their own fairy tale?

I saw the moment when the players were diligently digging the snow on the field, cherishing the only free kick they had up to that point. At that moment, my nose was stinging, our Vietnam team had never been in such a difficult and desperate moment. The history of Vietnamese football has never recorded an image that depicts such determination and unity.

And then there was the image that was perhaps most worthy to represent U23 Vietnam in this tournament. A rainbow shot tore through the net, millions of cries of "Vietnam" echoed through the sky, 11 red shirts hugging each other tightly in the middle of a white field.

Has the red flag with yellow star ever been so prominent and beautiful?

I saw the moment after the players walked around the stadium, bowed deeply to thank the home fans and went inside, there was only one player left. Duy Manh, holding the national flag, climbed up the highest snow mountain in the corner of the stadium, planted the flag there and respectfully bowed and took a few steps back.

Looking at the red flag with yellow star fluttering in the Changzhou stadium, even the strongest people could not hold back their tears. Yes, I burst into tears, cried because I was so proud of you, a generation of players who brought pride and national pride to every place you went. Thank you to your parents and teachers for educating our heroes with both talent and virtue.

After this great battle, the students all sent their thanks and apologies for not being able to bring home the gold cup.

But we answered them: "If you fight to bring the cup home to give to the fans, then we fans don't need the cup anymore, we need you. You are the reward, the most precious gift of this country. Come back here, our people are waiting for you to celebrate together. We celebrate not only because you have won medals, but because you have shown us how heroic and indomitable Vietnam is."

I have never seen my country so happy and proud! U23 team, how much do you love your country to be able to do that?

Du Phong currently lives and works as an interpreter in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh. He has published 5 books with the titleSelf love,Don't think too much about the past,Hold my hand and peace will come,Don't call me exandWith you here, happiness is here too, along with three books in collaboration with other authors.

Awakening of love for the Fatherland

Associate Professor Dr. Do Ngoc Thong - Drafting Board of the new Literature program (Ministry of Education and Training) - shared that in the final match, he was present at My Dinh National Stadium, not to watch football but to watch patriotism.

During the war years, patriotism was a sacrifice of blood and bones, as Xuan Dieu said: "Love for the fatherland is the mountain peak, the river bank / At the extreme moment, it is a flowing stream of blood"... But since the country has been at peace, how many times have we witnessed the heroic spirit of the people?

For a long time, there has not been a policy or movement launched by the state that has called for such spontaneous patriotism from all classes of people.

"And they cried like children when the last match, in the last minute of the last extra time, their beloved team was scored on, ending their dream of winning the championship... I don't know how they are at other times, what they are doing, where they are... But to me, at this moment they are patriots. I also know that football and national destiny are different; but I still think that is patriotism", Associate Professor Do Ngoc Thong shared.

Associate Professor Do Ngoc Thong expressed that he saw very clearly the shape of patriotism.