Coach Dinh Hong Vinh makes two big changes: U23 Vietnam ready to counter-attack against Uzbekistan at Asiad 2026

The rhythm of feet on the grass does not lie; you only need to stand on the touchline long enough. On the afternoon before the final group-stage match of Group C at the 2026 Asian Games, I stood on the sideline of the auxiliary training pitch, where U23 Vietnam held a light session that lasted less than an hour. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh deliberately had the starting eleven play against the reserves, and after about fifteen minutes, I noticed two clear differences compared with the match against Kuwait: Nguyen Le Phat, the hero of the win over the Philippines, was deployed as the highest striker; Le Dinh Long Vu, a player born in 2026, appeared at left-back in place of Phi Hoang. Quoc Viet, the main forward in the previous two matches, sat on the bench wearing a thick jacket. Changes like this always raise a question: why now? U23 Vietnam are second in Group C with 4 points and a goal difference of +2. They beat the Philippines 2-0 in the opening match with goals from Ngoc My and Nguyen Le Phat, then drew Kuwait 1-1 in the second round. U23 Uzbekistan have already secured a quarterfinal place with a perfect six points, scoring 7 goals and conceding only 1. The Philippines are eliminated with 0 points, while Kuwait have 1 point. In this context, U23 Vietnam only need a draw against Uzbekistan to officially advance to the quarterfinals. If they win, they will take top spot. If they lose, they still have a chance of progressing as long as Kuwait do not beat the Philippines by a large enough margin to push Vietnam down to third place. The match kicks off at 12:00, at the same time as the Philippines – Kuwait fixture. This schedule creates a special kind of tension: Vietnam's ticket can be decided by goal difference if the team cannot hold a favourable result. In recent history at U22 level, Vietnam drew Uzbekistan 0-0 in 2026 and lost only 0-1 in another match. The gap between the two sides is not enormous, but Asian youth football always has its own surprises, especially when one team has already qualified and the other needs points. Vietnam's biggest anchor in this match is the stability of their defence. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh is almost certain to keep the same back three of Duc Anh, Nguyen Hoang and Pham Ly Duc, with goalkeeper Cao Van Binh. This trio has played the full 180 minutes so far and has not made any serious mistakes. That trust in the defensive unit is the foundation for making changes elsewhere without taking huge risks. In midfield, Nguyen Thai Quoc Cuong and Xuan Bac remain the central pairing. They read the game well and will be crucial in shielding the area in front of the box. The two changes made by Coach Dinh Hong Vinh need to be read carefully. Nguyen Le Phat replacing Quoc Viet as centre-forward is not a shocking decision when you watch Le Phat's movement in training. He is not a static target man; he is a mobile striker who drifts wide or drops deep to create space for the wingers. Quoc Viet has a stronger physical frame, but against a Uzbekistan side that is strong in the air, a mobile striker is a more viable option. Having Quoc Viet on the bench can also be seen as a way to manage his energy, or simply as a message that a starting place must be earned through form. Calling Xhaka's name wrong three times taught me to read people before writing about them, so I will not rush to call this a punishment or a sign of internal trouble. The second change is at left-back, where Le Dinh Long Vu makes his first start at the 2026 Asian Games. Phi Hoang started the first two matches, but Coach Dinh Hong Vinh may have noticed that Phi Hoang is vulnerable against quick wingers. Long Vu is younger, has more stamina, and often pushes forward in training. However, his international experience is limited, so the risk of being beaten in one-on-one situations is real. If Long Vu is properly covered by the left-sided centre-back and the central midfielders, he could become a useful tactical weapon. Uzbekistan are an opponent with a squad depth rarely seen at this stage. They have scored 7 goals in 2 matches, an average of 3.5 per game. The most notable detail: in the match against Kuwait, they had to play with ten men from the 48th minute, yet they kept a clean sheet and won 2-0. If a player was sent off in that match, he will be suspended against Vietnam. But with their deep squad, Uzbekistan can still field a high-quality eleven. They have already qualified, but top spot still matters a great deal in determining their quarterfinal bracket, so the chance of them rotating the entire squad is very low. This means U23 Vietnam need a game plan based on a deep block, with sensible spacing between the lines, and they must wait for opportunities in transition. Ngoc My on the left wing and Thanh Nhan on the right wing have both scored at this tournament, and both have the speed and close control to hurt opponents. They will be the main weapons in quick counter-attacks. To make that work, Vietnam need to pass accurately over short distances after winning the ball, instead of launching long balls that easily lose possession. Based on my experience covering many Asian Games and World Cups, I have noticed that young teams often make their biggest mistake when they only need a draw: they play with a half-hearted mentality, both trying to keep a clean sheet and trying to attack, and end up achieving neither. Coach Dinh Hong Vinh seems to understand this. He has not picked a purely defensive lineup; he has picked a lineup capable of sharp counter-attacking. Le Phat stretches the defence, Long Vu overlaps with Ngoc My on the left, and Thanh Nhan holds the right side to stretch the opponent's shape. This is a clear counter-attacking structure, not a plan for a dull draw. I also want to address a different angle that many fans might miss. The fact that Uzbekistan have already qualified leads some people to think they will switch off. I believe that way of thinking is dangerous. In continental tournaments, top spot is always valued because it decides the next opponent. A team with Uzbekistan's depth can both rotate and maintain heavy pressure through quality substitutes. If Vietnam become complacent because they think the opponent has no motivation, they will put themselves in trouble. On the other hand, Quoc Viet's bench role is being misread as a sign of internal conflict. In reality, a strong, physical centre-forward like Quoc Viet coming on in the second half when Uzbekistan begin to tire could be a huge advantage. This may be a clever tactical lever by Coach Dinh Hong Vinh, not a demotion. An empty stadium, but hearts full — that year I understood why I sit here. Today's match may not have the crowded stands of previous Asian Games, but for those who love Vietnamese football, it still means a great deal. U23 Vietnam do not need to prove they are the best team in Group C. They only need to prove they are mature enough to know how to advance. When the door to the quarterfinals opens, the focus is not on how strong Uzbekistan are, but on whether this generation is ready for a longer journey. The answer will be written on the pitch, where the rhythm of feet never lies.