Vietnamese U20 midfielder: 'Japan excels in ball control'

Vietnamese U20 women's team midfielder An Hoàng Cúc assessed that Japan's U20 is a strong opponent, but the entire team will strive to achieve the best result in the quarter-finals of the 2026 Asian U20 Championship.

"Japan's women's U20 is a very strong opponent, with a compact playing style, excellent ball control, and many technically skilled players," An Hoàng Cúc shared.

Speaking about her personal preparation, the player born in 2006 stated that she is focusing on improving her defensive capabilities and ensuring the best physical foundation: "For myself, I will strive to prepare my movements and organize the defensive formation effectively, while also maintaining excellent physical fitness.

I and the entire team will put in our utmost effort to achieve the best possible result for tomorrow's match."

Hoàng Cúc expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to learn and gain experience: "I am a new player, first participating in the continental U20 tournament. I am learning the playing style from players with many good skills. I will strive to accumulate experience and progress further."

This afternoon, April 10, the Vietnamese women's U20 team continued training in Bangkok (Thailand) to prepare for the quarter-final match against Japan's women's U20 in the 2026 Asian Women's U20 Championship finals.

The training session continued during the match time slot from 3:30 PM under hot weather conditions, with outdoor temperatures reaching 37°C.

Despite this, the entire team maintained focus and a serious spirit, actively carrying out fitness training, organizing formations, and refining tactical requirements according to the coaching staff's plan.

Meanwhile, head coach Okiyama Masahiko of the Vietnamese women's U20 team stated: "Japan is a top-tier team in Asia, so we will need to analyze them thoroughly, build a solid defense, and prepare a plan focused on maximizing our limited opportunities.

First, we need to ensure the players are in good physical condition, including managing fatigue and mental exhaustion.

Compared to Japan, we have an extra day of rest, so we will utilize that to prepare well, achieve full recovery, and have appropriate motivation."

Japan's U20, the record-holding champion and runner-up in 2024, easily advanced to the quarter-finals with an unbeaten record in Group C, scoring 13 goals and conceding only twice, and coach Akira Ijiri understands that it's best not to disrupt what is working well.

According to the schedule, the Vietnamese women's U20 team will face Japan's women's U20 at 4:00 PM on April 11 at Pathum Thani Stadium (Thailand).