U23 Vietnam and U23 Indonesia: Opening is the early final match of Group A

This is considered the early final of the group, even of the entire SEA Games.

First of all, this is a match between two Korean coaches who are competing in Southeast Asian football and are both achieving success as expected. Mr. Park Hang-seo came to Vietnam, with Vietnamese football reaching out strongly to the continent and is heading towards the world. Mr. Shin Tae-yong came to Indonesia to revive a football industry full of potential but in disrepair and although he still only "came second" like many others, he showed a new hope, especially from the U23 generation at the tournament.SEA Games 31This.

Coach Park Hang-seo lets U23 Vietnam practice behind closed doors, avoiding any prying eyes. Photo: VFF

The success of Mr. Park Hang-seo up to this point is very remarkable and proud. However, the challenge is not small when the Korean coaches easily study and imitate each other's plays, and restrain each other on the field. Up to this moment, Mr. Park Hang-seo and Mr. Shin Tae-yong both have different weapons, different strengths, different ways of doing things, and it is very difficult to say "who will win" when the final whistle of the 31st SEA Games final has not ended.

For Mr. Shin Tea-yong, iron discipline is what makes the progress of U23 as well as the Indonesian national team. Mr. Shin's problem now is how to connect and create strength between young talents in the country and those playing abroad, between them and senior players over 23 years old. This is a potential, rising team, the basis for U23 Indonesia to be confident against big opponents in this fierce race.

But will U23 Indonesia dare to play an open and fair game with U23 Vietnam, the home team that is familiar with the coach, the field, the teammates, and is the current SEA Games and Southeast Asian champion? With his strategic talent, Mr. Shin Tae-yong will surely know how to make his talented players develop in all necessary aspects. Otherwise, they will still be just a candidate team in the media, but in reality, they will not be a creative and dedicated team as expected?

A training session of the Vietnam U23 team. Photo: Hai Hoang

Meanwhile, after 4 years of great success, Vietnamese football under Mr. Park Hang-seo is gradually maturing but cannot immediately surpass its own limits. The Vietnamese team was not successful at the AFF Cup 2021, with the first obstacle being the Indonesian team, consisting mostly of U23 players currently in Vietnam, ready to fight their opponents. At that time, although he did not dare to compete with the Vietnamese team, it was clear that Mr. Shin knew how to limit all the strengths of his compatriot and achieve the set goal. This time, Mr. Shin certainly will not stop there, but will try to go one step further to usurp the opponent as he publicly declared?

So, in this interesting meeting, to maintain the existing gap, Mr. Park Hang-seo must certainly launch a new, surprising strategy for his opponent, if he does not want his opponent to surpass him? The opening match, which has long been considered a warm-up match, a draw will satisfy both sides before planning for the long term. But with the situation in Group A of the men's football event of the 31st SEA Games, whoever is one step slower will face a mountain in the semi-finals and the possibility of advancing is very slim, if not impossible. Will Mr. Park and Mr. Shin therefore deploy all their forces and strategies to gain an advantage?

U23 Vietnam currently has 32 players for the SEA Games 31 campaign. Photo: Archive

It is known that Mr. Shin Tae-yong currently does not have the best force, when the talented full-back Asnawi who is playing in Korea did not return in time for the opening match? But with the available force, it is not difficult for U23 Indonesia to play pragmatically as usual, explode as before and surprise the host U23 Vietnam? It is also not difficult to realizeU23 VietnamCurrently not as good at attacking the flanks as last term, the main striker over 23 years old Tien Linh is also not sure if he is ready at the highest level or not. Regardless, Mr. Park is still focusing on improving his scoring ability after what happened recently and that plan is being shown through trusting versatile players, rich in innovation, who know how to turn opportunities into goals.

In reality, the football field often does not go as the above theories, that is the nature, the wonderful surprise of football. Hopefully, the early final match of group A will go from one surprise to another, to reach a result that is not surprising for Vietnamese football, Vietnamese fans are the U23 Vietnam boys did not disappoint everyone's trust and expectations by overcoming the biggest opponent in the group stage?