HOT: Belgium easily defeated Croatia, sending a 'warning letter' to U17 Vietnam

Belgium U17, who will face Vietnam U17 in the U17 World Cup finals, is displaying remarkable performance at the U17 European Championship.

Vietnam U17 will face an enormous challenge at the 2026 U17 World Cup as they are placed in the same group as Belgium U17. The European representative just made a strong impression at the U17 European Championship held in Estonia and is regarded as one of the most watchable teams in this year's tournament. With their physical foundation, technical skills, and modern playing style, Belgium U17 promises to pose many difficulties for the Southeast Asian representative.

In their opening match, Belgium U17 convincingly defeated Croatia U17 with a score of 2-0. The red-shirted team started very quickly and took advantage of the opponent's mistakes to open the scoring in the 9th minute. Jayden Onia Seke sprinted down the left flank before firing a shot that hit the post, creating an opportunity for Jelle Driessen to tap in the rebound successfully.

Just minutes later, Belgium U17 continued to show their sharpness in attack. From a fast combination on the left flank, the ball was effectively delivered for Tinus Moorthamer to finish with a precise one-touch shot, making it 2-0. These simple yet high-speed ball movements allowed the European representative to put immense pressure on Croatia's defense.

Not only strong in attack, but Belgium U17 also possesses a defense with superior physical stature. The center-back pair Preben Blondeel and Elie Mbavu stand at 1m86 and 1m89 respectively, helping the team control the penalty area very well. In goal, goalkeeper Mattis Seghers, at 1m90 tall, plays with great reliability, reminiscent of senior Thibaut Courtois.

Belgium U17's performance is seen as a notable warning for Vietnam U17. Previously, at the 2026 U17 Asian Cup, Vietnam struggled greatly against teams with physical advantages like Australia U17. Therefore, when facing Belgium U17, the pressure will certainly be much greater.

Although considered the underdogs, Vietnam U17 can still hold hope if they prepare thoroughly in tactics and maintain their focus. The strength of the young Vietnamese team lies in their fighting spirit and flexible coordination. The 2026 U17 World Cup will take place from November 19 to December 13, 2026, and will be a valuable opportunity for Vietnamese youth football to gain more experience at the world's biggest stage.