Former player Tuan Phong: 3 identical matches, U23 Vietnam missed many chances

When the final whistle sounded at the stadium in Hangzhou, the 0-2 scoreline against U23 Uzbekistan appeared on the electronic board. But the U23 Vietnam players did not hang their heads. They had secured a place in the quarterfinals of ASIAD 2026 as one of the best third-placed teams. This ticket is a wonderful thing, but it is hiding a reality that former national team player Nguyen Tuan Phong pointed out with the frankness of someone who has stood in the penalty area: three matches, three identical scenarios, and a systemic problem. In a conversation with reporters, Tuan Phong did not hesitate to point out that U23 Vietnam controlled the ball well, attacked quite smoothly, but missed too many good chances. What is more worrying is the inexplicable repetition. "Three identical matches," he said. Not one bad match, but a repeating pattern: possession, creating chances, then missing them, followed by goals conceded too easily. The first problem lies in the defense. The center-backs did not cover each other, leaving a vast space in front of the penalty area. The left flank of Le Dinh Long Vu was heavily exploited in the first half, and only when coach Dinh Hong Vinh brought on Phi Hoang did the situation improve. This is the classic weakness of a three-center-back system: the space behind the advanced wing-back. Uzbekistan read that from the first minute. But the deeper cause lies in midfield. U23 Vietnam lacks a true defensive midfielder, a player like Thai Son of old. The absence of a "sweeper" in front of the back three constantly left the wide center-backs in direct confrontation with opposing forwards. Deploying two attack-oriented midfielders, Xuan Bac and Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong, removed the only shield in front of the defense. The result was two goals conceded too easily, exactly as Tuan Phong described. The context became even more difficult when U23 Vietnam was without two first-choice center-backs, Hieu Minh and Nhat Minh. New names like Duc Anh and Le Nguyen Hoang alongside Pham Ly Duc lacked smooth coordination. This is a squad depth problem, a puzzle that any team faces when entering a long tournament. The absence of Dinh Bac further exposed the issue. Tuan Phong believes this is a "class" player who can create breakthroughs, a reference point for the attack. Without him, U23 Vietnam lacks someone who can solve a match on their own. The tactic may be sound on paper, but it depends too much on specific individuals. The context of the opponents makes the picture even clearer. Uzbekistan was repeatedly described as a "class" youth team with superior physical and technical foundations. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh admitted this was the most difficult match for U23 Vietnam in the tournament. But Tuan Phong warned that in the quarterfinals, opponents like South Korea or Saudi Arabia are on another level. To hope for a good result, U23 Vietnam needs to improve much more. Notably, Tuan Phong has proactively lowered expectations. He emphasized that the current squad is "weaker than itself" compared to the Kim Sang Sik era, and has "many squad deficiencies" to hope for a surprise. This is a typical expectation management tactic ahead of the knockout round. It reduces pressure on the coaching staff but also lowers the public's ceiling of expectations. However, not everything is negative. The Phi Hoang substitution improving the left flank shows the coaching staff can read the game and adjust in time. This is a genuine tactical asset in knockout football. History also shows U23 Vietnam can beat top continental sides in a single match, like the penalty shootout victory over South Korea at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup. From a football development perspective, U23 Vietnam's puzzle reflects an imbalance in the youth training system. We produce creative attackers like Dinh Bac, but lack reliable center-backs and defensive midfielders. This is a structural problem with long-term effects on the national team's competitiveness. At this moment, the biggest risk for U23 Vietnam is the defense. A back line missing both first-choice center-backs and shielded by no true holding midfielder is a structural weakness that strong opponents will exploit, just as Uzbekistan did on the left flank. The finishing problem is also a "priced-in" risk. Three consecutive matches of missed chances make opponents no longer fear Vietnam's ability to finish a match. The quarterfinal draw will be a binary risk multiplier. Avoiding South Korea and Saudi Arabia opens a survivable path, but facing either raises elimination probability sharply. The return of Hieu Minh and Nhat Minh in the quarterfinal could be the most consequential swing factor, potentially reducing the risk level from high to medium. Football is a game of emotions, but sports business operators must keep a cold heart. Numbers don't lie, but those who read them must know how to listen. When the stadium is empty, cash flow speaks the truth. For U23 Vietnam, the quarterfinal ticket is a success, but it is hiding systemic problems. The question is whether the coaching staff has the courage to change before it's too late?