Coach Dinh Hong Vinh: U23 Vietnam ready for any opponent at Asiad 2026 quarterfinals

On a hot afternoon in Nagoya, Vietnam U23 suffered a 0-2 defeat against Uzbekistan in the final group stage match of the men's football tournament at the 2026 Asian Games. Although they could not create a surprise against the strongest team in the group, coach Dinh Hong Vinh's players still secured a place in the quarter-finals, a result enough to keep the fans' belief alive. Speaking after the match, Dinh Hong Vinh not only explained the loss but also sent out a clear message: Vietnam U23 are ready to face any opponent, including South Korea or Saudi Arabia, in the round of eight. The match took place in a stadium filled with passionate Vietnamese supporters. However, after only six minutes, Vietnam's net was already shaking. Uzbekistan played at a very high tempo, pressing from the opponent's half. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh admitted that the goal came from the pressure of the opponent combined with a moment of lack of concentration from his defence. This is a typical slow start for young teams, but at a major tournament like the Asian Games, it is an expensive negative point. After the early goal, Vietnam U23 gradually regained control of the ball. Passes were circulated more often, the team pushed higher and attacks became sharper. Unfortunately, in the first half, the chances created were not converted into goals. Dinh Hong Vinh said that if Vietnam had equalised before the end of the first half, the situation could have been different. But football has no ifs. The darkest point of the match was not only the result but also the injuries to two central midfielders. Xuan Bac, considered the conductor controlling the attacking rhythm, had a physical problem and was forced to leave the pitch. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh confirmed that Xuan Bac's injury directly affected the team's ability to control the rhythm of transitions. Not only that, Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong, the other midfielder in the central pair, was also injured. Thus, both key midfielders will not be available for the quarter-final. This is a huge loss for Vietnam U23, as the pair formed the core of their playing system. It is not difficult to see that Vietnam U23's tactics revolve around two central midfielders. They do not only protect the defence from distance; they are also the ones who initiate attacks, carry the ball through the middle and set the rhythm for the whole team. When both are absent, the midfield almost has to be rebuilt from scratch. Dinh Hong Vinh acknowledged that the ability to control transitions dropped significantly after losing Xuan Bac. This is a warning for the coaching staff before facing an extremely strong opponent in the quarter-finals. Besides the personnel issue, Dinh Hong Vinh also pointed out the team's weakness in attack. He said he was not satisfied with the ability to exploit attacking plays in the final third. Vietnam's style was sometimes slow and lacked the necessary sharpness against organised defences. This is not a theoretical comment; it was clear on the pitch. In the first half, Vietnam created chances but did not score, showing a gap between chance creation and conversion. There is a reality that the fans need to understand: Vietnam U23 did not have a perfect preparation for this tournament. Dinh Hong Vinh confirmed that the team only had a short training camp, while the squad was a mix of players who had competed at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup and new faces. This is not a group that has played together for many years, but a team in the process of development. Therefore, qualifying for the quarter-finals despite losing the last group match can be considered a success, because it came in a context of instability in the squad. Moreover, many key players of this U23 generation have been promoted to the senior national team. That means Vietnam U23 are not the strongest possible squad because the best players serve the bigger team. Dinh Hong Vinh said that no matter the squad, when taking responsibility, he felt satisfied. That is the attitude of a person who understands the context, who understands that Vietnamese football must prioritise the national team. But from a professional perspective, the absence of those players makes Vietnam U23 lose part of their strength, especially in decisive moments. Another factor is the weather in Nagoya. Since September 13, the area has experienced a long heatwave. High temperatures affect the players' fitness, making sprints harder and maintaining a high intensity for 90 minutes seems almost impossible. Dinh Hong Vinh admitted that his players had physical problems, and focusing on recovery for the quarter-final is the top priority. The schedule is also working against Vietnam U23. The group stage match ended on September 22, and the quarter-final will take place only three days later, on September 25. With a team suffering from Nagoya's heat, three days is too short a time to fully recover. The coaching staff will have to rely on post-match fitness tests to decide the squad. This means that the starting line-up in the quarter-final could be significantly different from the match against Uzbekistan. The big question now is who Vietnam U23 will face in the quarter-finals. In Group D, South Korea and Saudi Arabia are fighting for the top spot. If Vietnam finish second in Group C, they will likely face one of these two giants. These are teams with superior physical conditioning, tactics and squad depth. However, Dinh Hong Vinh said Vietnam U23 are mentally ready to face any opponent. He stressed that his team does not choose opponents, but will prepare as best as possible. Looking at reality, Vietnam U23 are facing a huge challenge. They have lost two important central midfielders, must play in harsh weather and will face one of the strongest teams in Asia. But football is a sport of surprises. The fighting spirit of young Vietnamese players is always a pillar. Dinh Hong Vinh highly appreciated the efforts of all players and expressed satisfaction with their attitude and fighting spirit. This suggests that the dressing room is united and the team still has belief ahead of the decisive match. The expectation of Vietnamese fans is huge. They want to see a team that dares to play, dares to impose themselves, no matter how strong the opponent is. Dinh Hong Vinh probably understands that. In the context of a depleted squad, he still wanted to send a message about a bright future: the new squad of Vietnam U23 will make far progress in the future. This is not only encouragement but also a strategic direction: the immediate result is not everything; what matters is building a generation that knows how to compete on the continental stage. However, the supporters should stay calm. Vietnam U23 have shown a clear playing style, but the finishing ability is still a long-standing weakness. If they cannot improve their finishing, it will be very difficult to score against teams with organised defences like South Korea or Saudi Arabia. Moreover, losing both central midfielders will make Vietnam lose the connection between defence and attack. The coaching staff may have to consider an extra holding midfielder or a centre-back pushing up to fill the gap. But these are emergency solutions, not replacements for what Xuan Bac and Quoc Cuong brought. Furthermore, the continuous forced rotation of the squad shows that Vietnam U23 lack real squad depth. Dinh Hong Vinh once said his team was forced to rotate personnel. The word "forced" reflects a harsh reality: the squad has few options, especially in midfield. If there is no surprising recovery, Vietnam U23 will enter the quarter-final with an untested midfield. That creates a high potential for risk against a team capable of pressing high. But on the other hand, Vietnam U23 have achieved the minimum goal of the tournament. The quarter-final is not a bad result, especially given the difficulties in preparation, personnel and weather. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh has cleverly built a positive narrative around the growth of young players. Instead of dwelling on defeat, he chooses to look forward. This helps the players release pressure and gives fans confidence before the most important match. It is also important to note that Uzbekistan are very different from the rest of the group. They almost retained the squad that played at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, so their unity is great. They won all their group matches, showing that they are strong not only in individuals but also in collective play. Losing to such an opponent is not a big surprise. The issue is how Vietnam U23 reacted after the goal. They controlled the ball better, created more chances, but lacked the final touch. This shows that the gap in class remains, but the spirit never gave up. In youth football, the mental factor often decides a lot. A team with a strong spirit can exceed its limits. Vietnam U23 have a coach who is good at inspiring. Dinh Hong Vinh did not criticise his players after the loss; on the contrary, he praised their effort. This behaviour creates a positive atmosphere and helps the players feel more confident before the quarter-final. Confidence in a cup match is sometimes more important than class. From a professional perspective, Dinh Hong Vinh and his staff will have to find an optimal solution for the midfield. They may use a younger player as a replacement, but the pressure of a quarter-final is enormous. Not many players would dare to take risks against a strong pressing team. Perhaps Vietnam U23 will choose a defensive counter-attacking approach, accepting to hand over the game to wait for a breakthrough moment. This is a reasonable option in the current situation. However, to do that, the team needs absolute focus for the full 90 minutes and must avoid individual mistakes like the seventh-minute goal against Uzbekistan. Vietnamese fans have reason to hope. The U23 team proved that they can play on equal terms with a strong opponent like Uzbekistan for most of the match. If they solve the midfield puzzle, if the players remain focused, Vietnam U23 can surprise in the quarter-final. But if not, the challenge of South Korea or Saudi Arabia will be a costly lesson. Whatever the result, this tournament will be a valuable experience for a generation of players who are growing up. The story of Vietnam U23 at the 2026 Asian Games is not over yet. The quarter-final on September 25 will be an important milestone, not only for the team but also for the fans. Dinh Hong Vinh has set a new standard: no matter who the opponent is, no matter what the squad is, Vietnam U23 will fight to the end. That spirit is the most precious thing. Because in football, there are things that cannot be bought with money, cannot be measured by tactics. That is the heart, the belief, the desire to contribute. And Vietnam U23, despite their imperfections, have all of that.