ASIA U23 TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE 2024
9:00 p.m. April 25: U23 Qatar 2-4 U23 Japan (Quarterfinals 1)
00:30 April 26: U23 Korea 2-2 U23 Indonesia, Penalty 10-11 (Quarterfinals 2)
9:00 p.m. April 26: U23 Uzbekistan – U23 Saudi Arabia (Quarterfinals 3)
00:30 April 27: U23 Iraq – U23 Vietnam (Quarterfinals 4)
9:00 p.m. April 29: U23 Japan – Won Quarterfinals 4 (Semifinals 1)
00:30 April 30: U23 Indonesia – Won Quarterfinals 3 (Semifinals 2)
10:30 p.m. May 2: Lose Semi-final 1 – Lose Semi-final 2 (Third place match)
10:30 p.m. May 3: Won Semi-final 1 – Won Semi-final 2 (Final)
After creating a “seismic” by winning runner-up at the 2018 Asian U23 Championship in China, U23 Vietnam now faces the opportunity to repeat the miracle 6 years ago by becoming one of the 8 strongest teams present in the round. quarterfinals at the tournament taking place in Qatar.
Notably, the opponent that U23 Vietnam encountered in the quarter-finals this year was U23 Iraq – the team that was our defeat in the 2018 tournament when they lost to coach Park Hang Seo’s team in a penalty shootout. saved in the quarterfinals.
The joy of victory of Iraq U23 players in the match against Saudi Arabia U23 in the group stage (Photo: AFC).
Fate helped U23 Vietnam meet U23 Iraq again in the quarter-finals when the West Asian team unexpectedly defeated U23 Saudi Arabia in the final round of the group stage to win first place in Group C (because U23 Vietnam won second place in Group D). losing to U23 Uzbekistan in the final match).
In terms of strength and performance in the group stage, U23 Iraq is still considered “easier” than U23 Saudi Arabia – the team that is the defending champion of the tournament.
Despite winning the top spot in Group C, Iraq U23 showed that they are not a comprehensive team in both offense and defense. After 3 group stage matches, although Iraq U23 scored 6 goals, they also conceded 5 goals. In all 3 group stage matches, Iraq U23 did not keep a clean sheet due to mistakes in defense.
In the opening match of the group stage, Iraq U23’s defense showed complacency against Thailand U23 and conceded 2 goals from shots directly into the penalty area.
In the second match against Tajikistan, Iraq U23 continuously led the goals thanks to their diverse attack ability from both sides as well as the middle, but they still showed mistakes in defense when conceding 2 goals in a haphazard manner. easy.
With what U23 Iraq is showing, coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his team can completely confidently break through the opponent’s defense to score, like the way U23 Thailand or Tajikistan did in the last group stage.
Ali Jassim is a U23 Vietnamese player to be wary of as he has scored 2 goals in 3 group stage matches (Photo: AFC).
Although the defense is not really good, the attack of U23 Iraq is something that coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his students need to be wary of. Iraq U23 owns two speedy wingers: Ali Jassim (left) and Muntadher Abdulameer (right).
Many of Iraq U23’s goals were created from the duo’s downfield situations before crossing into the penalty area for their teammates to finish.
Another advantage of U23 Iraq is the ability to fight in the air thanks to its superior height compared to the players of U23 Vietnam. The average height of the West Asian team is 179.8 cm, among the top 5 teams with the best physical shape in the tournament.
Meanwhile, the average height of U23 Vietnam is 176.2 cm, in the group of modest heights in this tournament.
Facing opponents who play a large number of defenders and cluster in the home field, when having difficulty moving the ball to the bottom of both sides, Iraqi U23 players often take advantage of early crosses from both sides into the penalty area to take advantage of the ball. Take advantage of the height of the strikers.
Speaking before the quarter-finals, Iraq U23 coach Radhi Shenaishil expressed respect for Vietnam U23 but was determined to win tickets to the semi-finals.
“The knockout round will be different from the group stage, we respect Vietnam and will have to work hard to get good results. Iraq U23 is playing well and we are candidates for the semi-finals. This is an opportunity to makes our fans satisfied,” the 57-year-old military leader affirmed.
Head-to-head record of U23 Vietnam – U23 Iraq
U23 Iraq is the first champion of the U23 Asian Championship. They were crowned in 2013 in Oman when they had 6 wins in the tournament. Three years later, they ranked 3rd at the 2016 Asian U23 Championship and won tickets to the 2016 Olympics.
In 3 tournaments in 2018, 2020 and 2022, Iraq U23 all played unsuccessfully. In 2018, they were eliminated by U23 Vietnam in the quarterfinals after an 11m penalty shootout (draw 3-3 after 120 minutes).
In addition, at Dubai Cup 2022, U23 Vietnam also drew 0-0 with U23 Iraq. Overall, the head-to-head performance is in favor of U23 Vietnam.
That brought a big spiritual boost to coach Hoang Anh Tuan and his team, so that the team could serve as a fulcrum towards creating a miracle against their opponents.
