U20 Vietnam set aside sorrow, determined to beat Palestine to keep hopes alive

This afternoon at training, the atmosphere of U20 Vietnam was no longer as heavy as two days ago. Laughter has returned, and touches on the ball have begun to show confidence again. But make no mistake — this ease is not carelessness. It is how a young team heals after the 0-3 shock against North Korea, and it is also how they prepare for a match they cannot afford to lose: against Palestine tomorrow. I have followed many youth teams in Asian qualifiers, and I know one thing: after a heavy defeat, there are two types of reactions. One is fear, shrinking back, playing as if in debt. The other is a deliberate calmness — the calmness of those who understand that complaining will not change the scoreline. U20 Vietnam is currently in the second category. Head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi held a long meeting with his players after the loss to North Korea. His message was clear: it is not over yet. The 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers still have two matches left, and the ticket to the next round is still within reach if the team knows how to rise at the right moment. The Japanese tactician understands that at this point, tactics are only part of the equation. The rest is psychology. But I am not writing this article to talk about spirit. I am writing to talk about reality — the reality that the media is trying to soften with stories of revival. The first reality: U20 Vietnam is missing its most experienced centre-back. Nguyen Le Phat has left the squad ahead of the Palestine match, leaving a huge void in defence. A squad that was already not the strongest has now become even thinner in the most critical position. Against North Korea, the defence showed many errors. Now, without a key pillar, the defensive puzzle becomes even harder. The second reality: Dinh Quang Kiet is carrying too heavy a burden. He is considered the most experienced player remaining, the one expected to be the last line of defence. But against North Korea, he himself had an under-par performance. He alone cannot cover every gap. Top-level football does not operate on the principle of one man saving the whole team — no matter how talented that man is. I once wrote: "A star is never bigger than the squad, even if that star is named Son." This holds true for Vietnamese youth football as well. Quang Kiet may be the best centre-back remaining, but if those around him do not fulfil their roles, he will be dragged down with the collective. Now, let us talk about the opponent. Palestine is not a strong team. They just lost 1-2 to Iran in their opening match. But that very defeat also shows they can score against a much higher-rated team. They have psychological freedom — nobody expects them to advance, so they play without pressure. That makes them dangerous in a very particular way. I have watched many matches at youth level, and I have noticed a pattern: underestimated teams often play an annoying defensive-counterattacking brand of football. They do not need to control the game. They only need one moment. And if U20 Vietnam is not vigilant, Palestine can absolutely cause an upset. So what does U20 Vietnam need to do? First, the team needs a more solid defence. It cannot continue to expose gaps like it did against North Korea. Coach Ikeuchi has surely realised this — he has intensified tactical drills in recent training sessions. But intensifying is one thing; executing on the pitch is another. When the stands are empty, listen to the ball instead of the shouts. And I want to hear a defence that talks to each other more, commands each other more, instead of waiting in silence. Second, the team needs to capitalise on set pieces. Palestine is not a team with a particularly solid defence — they conceded two goals to Iran. Free kicks, corners, long throw-ins... these are opportunities for U20 Vietnam to score without needing to build up too many complex attacking sequences. In a tense match, a goal from a set piece is often the easiest to come by. Third, and perhaps most importantly: do not let emotions dictate the play. I have seen too many young teams rush forward chaotically after a heavy defeat, leaving gaps behind and conceding more unnecessary goals. U20 Vietnam does not need to win big. They just need to win. A minimal victory is enough to keep hope alive. I could be wrong. Maybe U20 Vietnam will play an explosive match and win convincingly. Maybe Quang Kiet will have the game of his life and become the hero. Maybe all my concerns are superfluous. But I write uncomfortable things so that those who are comfortable must re-read the match. And what I want to say is: the match against Palestine is not a match of promises. It is a match of maturity. A mature young team is not one that never loses. It is one that knows how to rise after failure, how to accept harsh reality and still find a way forward. Tomorrow's match will give us the answer. Whether U20 Vietnam truly understands who they are playing against, and what they are playing for. The fewer cheers, the easier it is to distinguish who has talent and who is just making noise. In a stadium that may not be full, in a match that no one thinks is important, U20 Vietnam will show us their true character. And I, I will listen to the ball.