U23 Vietnam vs U23 Iraq: A fulcrum from the past

Identify U23 Iraq

After 3 matches in the group stage, U23 Vietnam ranked second with 6 points. With this position, U23 Vietnam will have to face U23 Iraq (the first team of Group C) in the Quarterfinals.

Looking back at the matches in Group C, with the result of losing 0-2 in the opening match of the 2024 AFC U23 Championship group stage against Thailand U23, many people easily mistakenly think that Iraq U23 is not a formidable team in this year's tournament. However, if we look at that to think that the team from West Asia is not too strong, that is a somewhat subjective thought. Because, in the second match, Iraq U23 quickly regained its position as a giant in Asian football, when playing extremely well and winning 4-2 against Tajikistan U23.

In particular, in the final match of Group C, U23 Iraq proved that losing to U23 Thailand was just an accident. With a reasonable playing style, Mr. Radhi Shenaishil's team defeated U23 Saudi Arabia with a score of 2-1, to win the right to enter the Quarterfinals. U23 Iraq even surpassed the reigning 2023 U23 Asian Champion to win the first place in Group C.

The strength of Iraq U23 comes not only from the quality of the squad, with many stars, but they are also led by an extremely experienced coach, Radhi Shenaishil. In 25 matches that Mr. Radhi led Iraq U23, the team won 15 matches, drew 5 matches and lost 5 matches. Iraq U23 won the 2023 Gulf U23 Championship at home.

Coming to this year's tournament, U23 Iraq has set great ambitions with a thorough preparation process. They aim to win tickets to the 2024 Paris Olympics. With that goal, U23 Iraq has planned and started implementing it nearly 2 years ago. This team has continuously focused and made many tours. These include trips to Spain, Morocco or UAE for training and friendly matches. U23 Iraq has achieved very positive results such as winning U23 Morocco and Egypt with the same score of 1-0.

It can be affirmed that U23 Iraq is a strong team, having played football together for many years, so to overcome them at this time is not easy.

Look to the past to dream the present

Looking back to the past, U23 Vietnam has achieved positive results against Iraq. In the last 3 times the two teams met, U23 Vietnam won 1 match, drew 1 match and lost 1 match.

Notably, in the Quarterfinals of the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, under coach Park Hang-seo, Vietnam U23 defeated Iraq U23 in a penalty shootout when the two teams tied 3-3 after 120 minutes of play. This confrontation was considered a super classic performance, the best match of the tournament that year.

It should be remembered that, before coming to the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, Vietnamese football had also gone through a downward cycle. And only when coach Park Hang-seo took over with the start of victories against U23 Iraq or U23 Qatar, Vietnamese football achieved "rare" feats. That is the 2018 AFF Cup championship, a place in the semi-finals of ASIAD 18, reaching the quarter-finals of Asian Cup 2019, double SEA Games Gold Medals in 2 consecutive 2019 and 2022.

And now, Vietnamese football is also going through a difficult period, but who knows, the upcoming confrontation with U23 Iraq will rewrite the story that happened 6 years ago. U23 Vietnam will once again create a fever for fans and miracles will be repeated with the "golden star warriors".

Any comparison of the level between U23 Iraq and U23 Vietnam at the present time will certainly have a huge difference. However, in football there is always jealousy and Vietnam often finds luck when meeting Iraq. Therefore, no one taxes dreams, the miracles of the past will be a big mental boost for coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his team to overcome their opponent Iraq in the Quarterfinals of the 2024 AFC U23 Championship.