Chinese coach creates a smokescreen, secretly scouts, and points out 3 weaknesses of Vietnam U23 team.

Following their explosive performances, the tickets to the semi-finals of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship have gone to two rivals with a long history of rivalry: Vietnam U23 and China U23. Their clash on January 20th will be a battle for a place in the final.

Coach Antonio Puche's "smoke screen" tactic.

Before the big match, China U23 coach Antonio Puche unexpectedly declared he wouldn't be watching Vietnam U23 play because he was busy focusing on his own team. However, Beijing media quickly exposed this as a psychological tactic. In reality, the Spanish strategist had already amassed a huge "database" on coach Kim Sang Sik and his team.

Chinese scouting teams meticulously analyzed every match video, carefully examining the strengths and weaknesses of the Vietnamese players. The Beijing Youth Daily stated: "The Vietnam U23 team is the strongest opponent China has ever faced." The flexibility in their tactical formations – from 4-4-2, 3-4-3 to the pragmatic 5-4-1 against the UAE – makes the Vietnam U23 team a difficult "unknown quantity" for any opponent to solve.

China U23 and the "double-decker bus" tactic

For the first time in history, reaching the top 4 in the continent, the Chinese U23 team is soaring thanks to an extremely pragmatic playing style. Instead of attacking, they proactively defend deep, ready to do everything to take the match to a penalty shootout – a scenario they just used to defeat the reigning runners-up, Uzbekistan.

Sohu website lists 3 "weapons" that give China confidence before the match:

A formidable defense: 390 consecutive clean sheets speaks volumes, posing a challenge to any attacking line. Optimal squad: Except for Yang Haoyu, who is suspended, Coach Puche has his strongest and most fit team at his disposal. Aerial advantage: Chinese media assess that Vietnam U23's ability to defend against aerial balls still has weaknesses, and this will be a critical vulnerability they will focus on exploiting.

"The Golden Star Warriors" and their burning desire to decide the match in 90 minutes.

In contrast to their opponents' reserved demeanor, the Vietnam U23 team advanced to the semi-finals with confidence and extremely high performance. Coach Kim Sang Sik possesses a formidable attacking force with names like Dinh Bac, Le Phat, Minh Phuc, and Viktor Le.

Under the South Korean strategist, the Vietnam U23 team not only plays football with technical skill but also relies on physical fitness and intelligent data analysis. Regional media attribute Vietnam's success to a persistent youth training process, something that Chinese football is still struggling to catch up with.

Coach Kim Sang Sik's objective was clear: to settle the match in regular time. Vietnam's sharp attack was expected to find a gap to break through the opponent's 390-minute clean sheet.

Get ready for a fiery "East Asian Derby"!

While the other semi-final was an all-Korean clash between the two powerhouses, South Korea and Japan, the match between Vietnam and China held a unique appeal in terms of emotion and drama. One side displayed a tenacious, pragmatic, and frustrating style of play; the other showcased a versatile and diverse attacking approach.

Who will make it to the historic final? The answer will be revealed after the top-level showdown on January 20th.

Dinh Bac immediately topped China's trending topics, causing a frenzy among netizens over the 'number 7 player'. An Thảo07:53:18 19/01/2026Ahead of the highly anticipated U23 Asian Cup semi-final between Vietnam and China on January 20th, the excitement isn't limited to the pitch; it's also erupting on social media platforms in China.