Vietnam U23 receives positive news from striker Thanh Nhàn ahead of their opening match at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship.
Striker Thanh Nhàn showed remarkable recovery during training in Saudi Arabia, providing an important attacking option for coach Kim Sang Sik ahead of the match against Jordan.
Thanh Nhàn made a remarkable recovery ahead of the opening match.
The Vietnam U23 team has just received some very positive signals regarding its personnel situation ahead of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship. During the training session on the afternoon of January 3rd in Saudi Arabia, key striker Thanh Nhàn showed significant progress in his injury recovery, rekindling hopes of being included in coach Kim Sang Sik's starting lineup for the opening match against Jordan.
Efforts to adapt to the harsh climate in Saudi Arabia.
The Vietnam U23 team began their second training session at the King Abdullah Sports City complex with a sense of urgency. The coaching staff proactively scheduled the training for early afternoon so that the players could quickly acclimatize to the hot weather conditions, similar to the schedule of the upcoming official matches in the tournament.
The most notable highlight is the significant improvement in Thanh Nhàn's physical condition. Unlike the first training session where he could only do light exercises, the striker born in 2003 took to the field in his full playing kit and followed a personalized training program at a higher intensity. The agility in his movements shows that his return to official competition is not far off.
The tactical role and beliefs of coach Kim Sang Sik
Coach Kim Sang Sik's patience in including Thanh Nhàn in the tournament squad reflects the importance of this striker in his tactical system. More than just an attacking threat, Thanh Nhàn's acceleration and intelligent off-ball movement are considered key to breaking down opposing defenses, especially against physically superior opponents.
His progress not only strengthened the attack but also created a positive psychological effect for the entire team. Under the scorching sun, the U23 Vietnam players still completed the entire tactical training session with the highest determination, meticulously preparing for the challenging journey ahead.
Complete the final preparation steps.
Currently, the team has only two training sessions left before facing U23 Jordan. Besides technical aspects, logistical issues and tournament regulations are also being strictly adhered to to ensure maximum focus for the players.
Recently, representatives from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) conducted a thorough inspection of the Vietnamese U23 team's match kits. All preparations, from personnel to technical aspects, are nearing completion, ready for the crucial match in the group stage.
