Match schedule U.22 Vietnam - U.22 Korea today: Will there be a surprise?

Waiting for the strategic talent of acting head coach of U.22 Dinh Hong Vinh

The Vietnam U.22 team has prepared quite thoroughly for the international friendly tournament CFA China Team 2025 in China, because this is a useful environment for young players to practice and hone their skills towards the goal of conquering the 2026 U.23 Asian qualifiers and SEA Games 33.

Under the leadership of acting head coach Dinh Hong Vinh, the U.22 Vietnam team had a week to gather for training. Before moving to China (March 17), Mr. Dinh Hong Vinh and his team also had 2 practice matches with the PVF youth team and the second-class Quang Ninh team. In these 2 test matches, the coaching staff gave all the players the opportunity to play, with the purpose of testing their skills. The results were quite positive when the players all showed their abilities, meeting the initial requirements of the coaching staff.

- Ảnh 1. — Nguyen Thanh Nhan *(left)* is an expected player in the U.22 Vietnam attack line.

U.22 Vietnam Executive Committee

Before the tournament, the coaching staff held a meeting to elect the executive committee for the U.22 Vietnam team. Accordingly, midfielder Nguyen Van Truong ( Hanoi Club) was trusted with the captain's armband, and the two vice-captains were striker Nguyen Quoc Viet (Ninh Binh Club) and defender Nguyen Nhat Minh (Hai Phong Club).

U.22 Vietnam arrived in China with a squad that was not the strongest. Striker Nguyen Dinh Bac was injured and had to leave the team. Meanwhile, other excellent players in the same age group such as Khuat Van Khang, Bui Vi Hao, Pham Ly Duc, Nguyen Thai Son, and goalkeeper Tran Trung Kien had to concentrate and play for the Vietnam national team. However, this is an opportunity for many other potential players of U.22 Vietnam to prove themselves. Through 2 friendly matches in the country, coach Dinh Hong Vinh and his colleagues must have found the most satisfactory squad. With the current force, the U.22 Vietnam squad competing in the CFA China Team 2025 tournament will likely include players with experience in the V-League and first division such as Nguyen Van Truong, Nguyen Duc Anh (Hanoi Club), Ho Van Cuong, Dinh Xuan Tien (SLNA), Nguyen Hong Phuc (The Cong Viettel ), Nguyen Nhat Minh (Hai Phong Club), Nguyen Thanh Nhan (PVF-CAND)... In addition, overseas Vietnamese player Viktor Le is also expected to make a difference in the midfield of the U.22 Vietnam team.

On the other hand, the U.22 Korean team has prepared quite poorly for this tournament. The team does not have an official head coach, but the three coaches Lee Chang-hyun, Jo Se-kwon, Kim Dae-hwan will manage together. U.22 Korea only gathered urgently on March 17, before going to China on March 18. 26 players of U.22 Korea are all playing domestically and 7 names have participated in the U.20 World Cup 2023. However, this is not the strongest force in this team's age group.

Against an opponent who is not well prepared, the possibility of the U.22 Vietnam team creating a surprise in the opening match will be higher. However, Korean football has always been at the top of the continent. Korean players have a superior physical and technical foundation. Therefore, even though the U.22 Korea team has very little time to practice together to assemble the squad and lacks stars, coach Dinh Hong Vinh and his team are still expected to face a big challenge.