Vietnam U20: Lessons from failure and faith in experienced stars

At the final training session before departing for Tajikistan for the 2026 AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers, the atmosphere at the VFF youth training center was unusually quiet. The sound of studs hitting the grass was steady, but no one was laughing or chatting. Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi stood silently on the sideline, holding a thick folder of documents. When the locker room falls silent, I can hear the chessboard turning. The context of this battle is not easy. Just three months earlier, the Vietnam U19 team (the predecessor of this U20 squad) suffered a regrettable failure at the 2026 ASEAN U19 Championship – a result that worried fans and experts alike. Coach Ikeuchi admitted it was a costly lesson but also motivation for the young team to improve. 'We learned a lot from that failure. The players understand that at the continental level, there is no room for complacency,' he said at the pre-tournament press conference. The Vietnam U20 squad for this qualifier features an interesting blend of familiar and new faces. The biggest highlight is the inclusion of Nguyen Le Phat, a central midfielder with experience playing in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers for the senior national team. Alongside him is defender Dinh Quang Kiet, who won bronze with the U23 team at the 2026 Asian Games and started in the 2026 ASEAN Cup campaign. They bring a new dynamic to the dressing room: the calmness and composure of those who have been through big matches. But football is not just 90 minutes – it is the drumbeat counting down between seasons. The 2026 AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers are being held in Tajikistan from August 28 to September 6. Vietnam U20 is in a group with North Korea, Palestine, and Iran – a very tough group. Coach Ikeuchi did not hide his caution: 'North Korea is very strong in physicality and mentality. We must prepare thoroughly physically and tactically.' However, what is noteworthy is that in his speech, Coach Ikeuchi emphasized that the coaching staff mainly relies on 'experience and existing data' to analyze opponents. This is a worrying signal. In modern football, lack of detailed information about the opponent can lead to unexpected tactical surprises. The best servant is the one who is forgotten — but the players never forget. And if the dressing room lacks sufficient data, experienced players like Nguyen Le Phat will have to read the match using their intuition and instincts. Delving deeper into tactics, it can be seen that Vietnam U20 under Coach Ikeuchi prioritizes defensive solidity. With the presence of Dinh Quang Kiet and captain Nguyen Quoc Khanh, the defense can play a four-man backline, but the ability to defend from the front remains a question mark. In the ASEAN U19 Championship, the team often conceded from set pieces and aerial duels – a core weakness that North Korea and Iran will exploit ruthlessly. Conversely, Vietnam U20's attacking strength comes from the creative passing of Nguyen Le Phat. He is the only player in the squad capable of changing the game with a long-range pass. But if he is neutralized, can the midfield with Tran Gia Hung and others provide enough spark? This is an unanswered question. A contrarian perspective that many may overlook is: the presence of players with senior national team experience could create an invisible gap in the dressing room. Those who have started in World Cup qualifiers may inadvertently put pressure on younger teammates, causing them to play timidly. Coach Ikeuchi needs to skillfully balance these two groups, turning the experience gap into a catalyst rather than a barrier. On a broader scale, the performance of Vietnam U20 in this qualifier will be a measure of the VFF's youth development system. If the team advances through the group stage with players like Nguyen Le Phat and Dinh Quang Kiet, it will confirm that the pathway from youth to senior national team is on the right track. Conversely, if they fail, pressure will mount on the coaching staff and could lead to personnel changes after the tournament. Looking ahead, three consecutive matches in nine days is a major physical challenge. Vietnam U20 will face North Korea on August 28, Palestine on September 3, and Iran on September 6. The tight schedule requires proper squad rotation, but Coach Ikeuchi did not mention this plan in the press conference. Summer has no promises, only suitcases lined up by the dressing room door. I report what they say, but I never take what they keep. The journey of Vietnam U20 in the AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers is not just about wins and losses; it is the maturing process of young players under the shadow of those who came before. Do they have enough courage to step out of that shadow and write their own story? The answer will be given on the Tajikistan pitch.