China U23 faces the 'challenge' of a five-defender formation: Risky or a fatal weakness against Vietnam?

Ahead of the 2026 U23 Asian Championship semi-final, heated debates are raging within Chinese football regarding tactics. The focus is on the five-defender system, a strength of the Chinese team, but now seen as a potential "Achilles' heel" when facing a highly adaptable Vietnamese U23 team.

The Achilles' heel of passivity

Expert Wang Chuqi argues that maintaining a deep 5-3-2 formation can become a suicide trap. According to his analysis, while this system provides a sense of security in terms of numbers, it deprives players of control over the midfield area.

"If we maintain a five-man defense that's too low, we'll be drawn into a passive game and easily surrounded by the opponent," warned Wang Chuqi. In a knockout match, excessive passivity often leads to individual mistakes under constant pressure.

The 'fast, compact, and adaptable' identity of the Vietnam U23 team.

The main reason for concern among Chinese experts lies in the playing style under coach Kim Sang-sik. The current Vietnam U23 team not only maintains a good technical foundation but also possesses an extremely impressive ability to coordinate small groups at high speed.

Vietnamese players are particularly dangerous at exploiting the narrow spaces between the lines. This "fast, short, and extremely unpredictable" style of play is the nemesis of defenses that tend to stand still and lack flexible covering.

A risky choice or a safe one?

To counter this, Wang Chuqi proposed a bold solution: Switching to a four-defender formation. The goal was to sacrifice one defensive position to strengthen the midfield, thereby establishing balance and preventing Vietnam's early attacks down the flanks.

However, this proposal has also met with much opposition:

• Disruption risk:Changing the core system right before the semi-final is a double-edged sword, potentially causing a loss of communication between positions.
• Covering:The five-defender system has worked smoothly since the start of the tournament, creating a certain level of cohesion among the central defenders.
• Psychological stress:Sudden changes can cause young players to lose confidence in their familiar playing style.

Overall, pressure is mounting on the Chinese U23 coaching staff. Whether they choose a proactive approach or continue to stick with a deep defensive system will directly determine the outcome of the race for a place in the final. The apprehension of Chinese experts is the clearest evidence of the position and strength that the Vietnamese U23 team has established in this year's tournament.