U20 Vietnam Coach: 'As Long as There's Hope, We Will Fight to the End'

I have followed Asian youth football for 48 years, and I can tell you this: nothing is more brutal than a youth qualifying round where the host team is eliminated on home soil. U20 Vietnam is facing that prospect after two consecutive losses in Group C of the 2027 U20 Asian Cup qualifiers. Head coach Yutaka Ikeuchi, a Japanese tactician, maintains his stance: 'As long as there's hope, we will fight to the end.' But look at the numbers. After two matches, Vietnam sits at the bottom of the group with 0 points and a -4 goal difference. The chance of advancing is almost zero. The loss to Palestine was the real shock. Coach Ikeuchi admitted: 'In the first half, the spirit and focus of the whole team were not fully in the game.' This is not a tactical issue. This is a psychological one. When you enter a match with a 'must-win' mentality, you lose the necessary composure. Palestine defended tightly and launched sharp counterattacks. Vietnam's young defense lacked experience in crucial moments. I recall the opening match against North Korea. The team controlled the game, created chances, and scored 2 goals. But they still lost. This reveals a structural problem: the team attacks well but is very fragile in transition defense. This is a classic risk-reward profile of a young, possession-heavy side lacking defensive maturity. Many will say Ikeuchi's tactics are too attack-oriented. But I believe the deeper issue is the excessive expectation from media and fans, creating undue pressure. Before the tournament, Vietnam was assessed as a strong team with home advantage, difficult to find weaknesses. The result? Bottom of the group, 0 points. I could be wrong. Maybe this team will create a miracle against Iran. But that scenario requires too many conditions: winning by 2+ goals, and North Korea beating Palestine. The probability is very low. The most important thing now is not the result against Iran. It's how these young players get up after the fall. The final match is a chance to restore pride, to prove they can learn from defeat. Youth football is not just about winning. It's about growth. When gray hair talks about football, don't cover your ears — because the fire is still red. And I believe that, regardless of the outcome, the lessons from this tournament will be the foundation for the future of Vietnamese football.