U20 Vietnam puts aside sadness, determined to beat Palestine to keep qualifying hopes alive

On the afternoon of September 2, at the training ground in Bangkok, the atmosphere of the U20 Vietnam team was somewhat contrary to what fans worried about after the 0-3 defeat to U20 North Korea in the opening match. The young players still trained with small-sided games, laughter echoing across the pitch. But behind that relaxed exterior was a steel determination: they must beat U20 Palestine on the afternoon of September 3, or else say an early goodbye to the dream of qualifying for the 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup. Head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi appeared with a calm face. He didn't say much about the loss to North Korea, instead focusing on tactical drills repeated over and over. A member of the coaching staff said the coaching staff is reinforcing tactical plays, especially the defensive phase and transition. The 0-3 loss exposed fatal gaps between the lines, where North Korean players comfortably received the ball and tore apart the defense. The only anchor in defense now is center-back Dinh Quang Kiet. Despite his poor performance against North Korea, with experienced defender Nguyen Le Phat unable to play due to injury, Quang Kiet becomes the most important defensive pillar. The reliance on a single player is a big risk, but in the context of a squad that is not the strongest, this is the most feasible option the coaching staff can consider. As for the opponent, U20 Palestine also just suffered a 1-2 loss to U20 Iran. This shows that the level of the two teams is not too different. Palestine is not a very strong team, but they have a physical style of play, ready for fierce challenges. This match promises to be a difficult battle, possibly decided by set pieces or a moment of individual brilliance. "We still have a chance. It's not over yet. The players need to show their fighting spirit to compensate the fans," coach Yutaka Ikeuchi shared briefly. That statement partly shows he is trying to relieve pressure on his students, while also sending a message that the team still has full faith. One of the biggest problems U20 Vietnam faces is the imbalance between expectation and reality. The squad for this tournament is not the strongest. Many key players were not released by their clubs due to domestic league schedules, severely weakening the squad. This is also an important reason leading to the defeat against North Korea. But fans don't care about those reasons. They only see a heavy loss and question the coaching staff's ability. In reality, having only one training session to prepare for the Palestine match is too short a time to fix systemic errors. What coach Yutaka Ikeuchi can do now is strengthen morale, simplify tactics, and hope for individual brilliance. For a young team, psychological factors sometimes matter more than tactics. The match between U20 Vietnam and U20 Palestine takes place at 3:00 PM on September 3 at Rajamangala Stadium. This is considered an early final of the group when the losing team is almost certainly eliminated. For U20 Vietnam, this is the last chance to salvage the remaining faint hope. And for those who have put aside their sadness, they will fight with everything they have. When the gaps between the lines are narrowed, when the players run one step more than the opponent, when heart and mind are directed toward one goal, football always has its miracles. Can U20 Vietnam create that miracle? The answer will come after 90 minutes at Rajamangala Stadium. But whatever the result, the never-give-up spirit of the young players deserves recognition. Because defeat is not the scariest thing. The scariest thing is losing faith in yourself.