Assessing South Korea U23's strength ahead of the clash with Vietnam U23

At 5:30 PM on September 25, Vietnam U23 will face South Korea U23 at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, in the men's football quarter-finals of the 20th Asian Games. The opponent is one of the most decorated teams in tournament history, having won three consecutive titles in 2026, 2026 and 2026. Experts believe South Korea are superior in physique, experience and squad depth, but Vietnam U23 still have reasons to believe in an upset. Earlier this year, at the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Cup, Vietnam U23 beat South Korea U23 on penalties after a 2-2 draw over 120 minutes. That was the third-place match. That detail is a reminder that the gap between the two sides is not an unbridgeable chasm. However, for the Asian Games, South Korea have significantly upgraded their squad by calling up nine players currently playing in Europe, mostly from England, Scotland and Wales. Notably, South Korea have also used all three overage slots: midfielder Lee Gi Hyuk (26, Gangwon FC), forward Yang Hyun Jun (24, Celtic) and midfielder Eom Ji Sung (24, Swansea City). This group brings experience, physical strength and professional rhythm from European football. It gives South Korea a huge advantage in duels and aerial battles. Looking at their goals, the two teams are heading in opposite directions. Vietnam U23, along with Japan U23 and Uzbekistan U23, are fielding many 21-year-old players and treating the Asian Games as a stepping stone toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. South Korea U23, meanwhile, are desperate to win the gold medal this year, as they have historically been the most ambitious team in men's football at the Asian Games. That is why they are willing to add experienced players for this tournament. Physical size is the most obvious difference. South Korea boast a series of tall players: goalkeeper Kim Joon Hong (1m90), centre-back Kim Jo Soo (1m92), defender Shin Min Ha (1m86), midfielder Lee Gi Hyuk (1m84) and striker Lee Young Jun (1m93). In contrast, Vietnam U23's starting line-up so far has only two players above 1m80: goalkeeper Cao Van Binh (1m84) and centre-back Pham Ly Duc (1m82). This is a serious challenge for the defence, especially if South Korea focus on crosses and set pieces. However, football is not only about height. South Korean media, particularly Daum, have warned their team not to be complacent. They describe Vietnam U23 as a dark horse of Asian football, with a solid defence, strong pressing and high team spirit. According to Daum, the absence of head coach Kim Sang Sik could even act as a catalyst for Vietnam's players to perform with more fire. Vietnam U23 still operate within the tactical framework he built, staying compact and pragmatic. Tactically, South Korea U23, with their European-based players, tend to play fast, physical football and impose their strength. They will press from the start and look to exploit their physical advantage from set pieces and crosses. Vietnam U23 must avoid giving away comfortable wide deliveries and should minimize fouls in dangerous areas. The back line must stay disciplined, cover well and wait for counter-attacking chances. Vietnam U23's biggest strength is their fearless mentality. Unlike an opponent carrying the weight of expectations, Vietnam's young players are allowed to experiment, make mistakes and focus on a longer-term goal. The pressure is not on them. In a knockout match, that can make a huge difference. The match promises to be an unfair contest on paper, but history has shown many times that Vietnamese football knows how to push past limits. If they stay fully focused for 90 minutes and take their few chances, Vietnam U23 can continue their fairytale run at the 20th Asian Games.