Vietnam U23 coach declares no fear facing host China

Coach Dinh Hong Vinh states Vietnam U23 will not be apprehensive in their match against host China U23.

Before the final match of the CFA Team China 2026 International Football Tournament held in Xi'an, Dinh Hong Vinh shared noteworthy comments by affirming Vietnam U23 will not be intimidated by China U23, despite playing away under significant pressure.

Entering the match at 18:35 on March 31, Vietnam U23 has only secured 1 point after two rounds, including a 1-1 draw with North Korea U23 and a 0-1 loss to Thailand U23. Although the results are not as expected, this remains an opportunity for the young players to accumulate experience and prove themselves on the international stage.

On the opposing side, China U23 has also not demonstrated superiority, being successively held to draws by Thailand U23 (2-2) and North Korea U23 (1-1), despite playing at home. However, this team's major advantage lies in the fervent support from spectators, with over 42,000 fans present at the Xi'an International Football Center Stadium.

Regarding the squad, Vietnam U23 likely will not have the service of key central defender Dinh Quang Kiet due to injury. “During the training session on March 30 afternoon, the coaching staff and medical team will assess the condition before deciding on Quang Kiet's availability to play,” Coach Dinh Hong Vinh said.

Evaluating the opponent, this strategist candidly acknowledges: “China U23 is the host, possessing advantages in venue and crowd support. As runners-up of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, China U23 has a foundation and experience of continental-level competition. But football is not solely about those factors. The crucial point is that on the pitch, 11 players compete against 11 players. The whole team will enter the match with the highest spirit, with nothing to fear.”

Not only aiming for the result, Vietnam U23 also considers this a long-term preparation step with young players born from 2005 to 2007. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh emphasizes: “The young Vietnamese players have shown their mettle through the past two matches. And this final match is an opportunity for them to prove themselves once more. A positive result against China U23 would be a deserved reward for the efforts of the entire team. We have also thoroughly studied China U23. More importantly, we have identified our own limitations to address. We will deliver an exciting match for the spectators and fans supporting our young players.”