Vietnam U17 Head Coach assesses the strength of opponents in the Asian tournament

On the afternoon of November 4th, the Vietnam U17 squad held another practice at the Vietnam Youth Football Training Center.

Having just played a practice match against U17 Cambodia last night (November 3rd), Coach Cristiano Roland focused on relaxation exercises to help players loosen their muscles and recover energy after an intense training period.

Before training, Coach Cristiano Roland took time to speak with the media about the team's preparation process and his evaluations after nearly a month of training.

The Brazilian coach expressed satisfaction with the players' training spirit and their quick adaptation: “What has pleased me most over the past month is that the players always feel comfortable wearing the national team jersey. Some have been called up before, while many are new to the squad.

Nevertheless, all have shown a strong desire to prove themselves, adapt to the team environment, and adjust well to the playing style developed by the coaching staff. They are demonstrating confidence and a clear understanding of their roles in each situation. This is the foundation for the team to be at its strongest when entering the 2026 AFC U17 Qualifiers.”

Regarding the six recent friendly matches of Vietnam U17, Coach Roland stated: “We carefully planned and arranged matches against opponents of various ages and levels – from domestic U18, U19, U21 teams to peers like U17 Cambodia.

With each match, they have shown clear progress and met the objectives set by the coaching staff. The upcoming three friendlies during the Japan training camp will also be crucial to ensure the team is fully prepared for the AFC U17 Qualifiers.”

Coach Cristiano Roland added that the Vietnam U17 team has basically formed its main framework, but all players still have the chance to compete: “Actually, we established the core team from the first training camp and added some outstanding new faces from the national U17 championship. My view is that every player must always be ready. The upcoming training camp in Japan will be an opportunity to finalize and strengthen the strongest lineup.”

Commenting on Vietnam U17’s group in the 2026 AFC U17 Qualifiers, Coach Cristiano Roland believes every opponent deserves respect “We have thoroughly studied our opponents. Every match is important and carries its own challenges. For me, the most important thing is that players fight with 100% spirit and ability. When they do that, we will make the matches easier through our own capabilities,” Coach Cristiano Roland emphasized.

According to the plan, tomorrow evening (November 5th), the Vietnam U17 team will depart for a training camp in Japan. During this time, the team will play three friendlies against suitably matched opponents arranged by the Japan Football Association. On November 16th, the team will return home to complete final preparations for the 2026 AFC U17 Qualifiers, scheduled from November 22nd to 30th, 2025, in Hanoi and Hung Yen.