Vietnam U23 vs. China U23: A test of character and pressure from public opinion.
Ahead of the 2026 U23 Asian Championship semi-final, a wave of skepticism has unexpectedly arisen in Thai public opinion regarding the Vietnamese U23 team's ability to overcome China's defense.
At 10:30 PM tonight (January 20th), the attention of football fans in the region will be focused on the dramatic semi-final match between Vietnam U23 and China U23 to compete for a ticket to the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship final. Prior to that, at 6:30 PM, the first semi-final between two long-standing rivals, Japan U23 and South Korea U23, will also take place.
Kim Sang-sik's impact and his journey to the semi-finals.
The journey of the Vietnam U23 team to this stage bears the strong imprint of coach Kim Sang-sik. The players in red jerseys consistently delivered convincing performances, culminating in a spirited 3-2 victory against the UAE U23 team after 120 tense minutes in the quarter-finals. This triumph has given fans great hope for a new miracle in the continental arena.
However, the Vietnamese U23 team's preparations are facing rather harsh scrutiny from the Thai media. Immediately after the semi-final pairings were determined, major football forums in Thailand erupted in heated debates about the strength of the Vietnamese representative.
A wave of skepticism from the Thai media.
Most opinions from Thailand suggest that the Vietnamese U23 team will fall into the same trap as their own team before: completely helpless against the disciplined and solid defense of the Chinese team. This concern is evident in the high frequency of posts on popular social media platforms.
Specifically, the pageChang SuekThe Buriram Supporters Club (version 2) has posted 5 articles in just the past 24 hours, including one with a cryptic message: "Thailand has met China. I wonder if Vietnam is qualified!". Meanwhile, the Buriram Supporters Club (version 2) even posted 9 articles, mainly using memes to imply that Coach Kim Sang-sik's team will be eliminated in this round.
What scenarios are possible for securing a place in the final?
Despite the prevailing wave of skepticism, there are still some neutral fans who maintain an optimistic view of Vietnam's U23 team's chances. This group believes that the Southeast Asian representative possesses a generation of young players with great potential and impressive speed.
From a professional analysis, the fast-paced style of play and the ability of Coach Kim Sang-sik's players to create breakthroughs are more than enough to stifle and penetrate the opponent's defense if they maintain their focus. Tonight's match is not only a battle for a place in the final, but also an opportunity for the Vietnam U23 team to assert their position and character in the face of external public pressure.
