U20 Vietnam shake off sorrow, determined to beat Palestine to keep hopes alive

On the afternoon of September 2, at the training ground in Bishkek, coach Yutaka Ikeuchi's squad held their first training session after the 0-3 loss to U20 North Korea. The atmosphere was somewhat heavy after the opening defeat, but what stood out was the change in the players' attitude. They were no longer silent, no longer hanging their heads. Laughter and playful moments during warm-up began to appear. That could be a signal of a team finding its balance again after the mental shock. Head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi spent most of the session talking individually with groups of players, especially the defense, which had shown many gaps under pressure from U20 North Korea. The coaching staff are believed to be reinforcing tactical plans, asking the players to be more proactive in closing spaces between the lines and minimizing risky passes in their own half. Ikeuchi's message was clear: the match against Palestine is not only decisive for their fate, but also a chance for the whole team to prove their character after the defeat. One of the biggest issues facing U20 Vietnam is the absence of centre-back Nguyen Le Phat. His departure leaves an already inexperienced defense even thinner. At this point, Dinh Quang Kiet is considered the most experienced centre-back remaining in the squad, and his role becomes even more crucial. Despite his poor performance against U20 North Korea, Quang Kiet still has the full trust of the coaching staff. But relying on a single individual in a tournament as demanding as the U20 Asian Cup qualifiers always carries risks. If Quang Kiet continues to underperform or gets injured, U20 Vietnam has almost no adequate replacement. In reality, U20 Vietnam did not have their strongest squad at this tournament. Several key players were absent for various reasons, and this is considered one of the important reasons for the heavy defeat against North Korea. Nevertheless, the lesson from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers taught me: the match report is not written in advance. The match is not over, every prediction is only a hypothesis. U20 Vietnam's 0-3 loss does not mean they are weaker than Palestine, who lost 1-2 to Iran in the first round. The group context is very open. U20 North Korea lead with three points and a +3 goal difference, while U20 Iran also have three points after their win over Palestine. U20 Vietnam and U20 Palestine are at the bottom with one loss each. Mathematically, U20 Vietnam still have a chance if they beat Palestine in the second match. However, a second defeat would virtually end their hopes. The match on September 3 is therefore of vital importance. Tactically, I do not have enough data to confirm what formation U20 Vietnam will use, but based on my experience following matches, a team that has just suffered a heavy defeat tends to play more safely, staying compact and waiting for counter-attacking opportunities. However, I also see a harsh truth from the numbers: distance covered and sprint counts are packaged as effort indicators, but ineffective running also produces beautiful numbers. What matters is not running a lot, but running in the right places, pressing at the right time, and maintaining proper team shape. There is no more accurate measure than set pieces. In a match where both teams are under pressure to win, dead-ball situations can decide everything. U20 Vietnam need to improve their set-piece defending, having conceded several goals from similar situations against North Korea. Conversely, this is also an opportunity for Ikeuchi's side to score from free-kicks and corners, where Dinh Quang Kiet's height and positioning could prove useful. One rare bright spot I noticed was the players' spirit. During training, they played around as if nothing had happened. Maybe that is their way of releasing tension, or perhaps it is a optimism that masks underlying anxiety. But in football, a good spirit sometimes matters more than tactics. As a league discipline reporter, I understand that a team with low morale will never perform to its true potential, no matter how perfect the tactics are. Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi also showed firmness in his media statement: "It's not over yet. We will do everything to compensate the fans with better performances." This is a promise, but also a warning to his own players. Looking back at the loss to U20 North Korea, I believe the biggest problem was not fitness or class, but defensive organization. Huge gaps between the midfield and defensive lines allowed the opponent to develop their play comfortably. If this is not fixed, U20 Vietnam will continue to struggle against a direct-playing team like Palestine. I do not deny that U20 Palestine are weaker than U20 North Korea, but they also just played a hard-fought match against Iran. The 1-2 defeat shows they are not a team that can be easily bullied. They can defend in numbers, play tight, and wait for opponents' mistakes. Therefore, U20 Vietnam need to be patient and avoid rushing forward from the start. In the past, Vietnamese youth teams often had problems maintaining concentration for the full 90 minutes. They can play well for one half before losing rhythm in the second. This is a deep-rooted weakness that foreign coaches like Yutaka Ikeuchi are trying to improve. However, a change in mentality cannot happen overnight. Another factor to mention is the role of the fans. The disappointment after the 0-3 loss is understandable, but fans also need to be patient with this young generation. They do not have the strongest squad, they are going through a difficult tournament, and they deserve encouragement rather than criticism. My method of following the 2026 World Cup is a net: small mesh, catching every fish. Applied to this match, I will not only look at the result, but also observe how U20 Vietnam move, how they react when losing the ball, and how they handle decisive moments. As for Dinh Quang Kiet, he must step up. The centre-back is expected to be the leader of the defense, the anchor for his younger teammates. A commanding performance against Palestine would restore his confidence and erase doubts about his ability. The match between U20 Vietnam and U20 Palestine will kick off at 19:00 on September 3 at Dolen Omurzakov Stadium in Bishkek. Both teams understand the value of three points. For U20 Vietnam, this is a match of survival. Can coach Yutaka Ikeuchi's side turn sorrow into strength? The answer will come on the pitch, but I believe that if they play to their ability and keep a cool head, U20 Vietnam can win and keep their hopes alive. Because in football, everything can change after just one match.