Vietnam U23 seek to channel Changzhou spirit ahead of AFC U23 Asian Cup quarter-final
VOV.VN - Vietnam U23 forward Nguyen Quoc Viet has said he and his teammates hope to draw inspiration from the fighting spirit shown by their predecessors at Changzhou, China, in 2018, as the team prepares for the quarter-finals of the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.
Following their victory over Saudi Arabia U23, Vietnam U23 returned to training ahead of their quarter-final clash with UAE U23. After an intense final group-stage match against the host side, head coach Kim Sang Sik prioritised recovery work in the first training session after the game.
Players who featured for more than 60 minutes focused on recovery exercises, while the remaining squad members maintained their physical conditioning and continued working on tactical drills under the guidance of the coaching staff.
Speaking to the media, Nguyen Quoc Viet said the team would approach the quarter-final with thorough preparation.
“Looking ahead to the quarter-finals, the whole team will review match footage, analyse the opponents and listen carefully to the tactical plans set out by the coaching staff to ensure the best possible preparation. In attack, everyone has the ability and is ready to contribute when given the opportunity,” he said.
Recalling Vietnam U23’s historic run at the 2018 AFC U23 Championship, Quoc Viet expressed his desire to follow in the footsteps of the previous generation.
“In 2018, I was still in Gia Lai and watched the senior players compete. I have always hoped that one day I could, together with my teammates, recreate that spirit and those images, and bring joy to the fans,” he said.
According to the match schedule, Vietnam U23 will face UAE U23 at 10:30 p.m. (Vietnam time) on January 16. The coaching staff are actively gathering and analyzing information on the opponents and finalising suitable tactical plans, with the aim of extending Vietnam U23’s run at the AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026.
Vietnam U23 open AFC U23 Asian Cup with composed win over Jordan
VOV.VN - Vietnam U23 opened their AFC U23 Asian Cup 2026 campaign with a composed 2-0 victory over Jordan U23, underlining the squad’s tactical discipline and match control.
AFC rates Vietnam U23 highly ahead of U23 Asian Cup 2026
VOV.VN - Vietnam U23 enter the U23 Asian Cup 2026 with growing expectations, having won the gold medal at the SEA Games 33 and returned to training after only a brief break to prepare for Vietnam football’s first major tournament of 2026.
