U23 Vietnam and the Physical Fitness Challenge: From Expectation to Reality at SEA Games 32

At the 118th minute of the SEA Games 32 semi-final, when U23 Vietnam players were exhausted chasing the ball, I realized the problem was not tactics, but what we cannot see on the pitch: physical fitness. From the stands of the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, I saw the heavy legs of Phan Tuan Tai, the slowing strides of Nguyen Thai Son – players who had been competing at high intensity for over 100 minutes. This was not a loss due to technique, but a loss due to the biological limits of humans under a dense competition schedule. SEA Games 32 was a harsh test for Vietnamese youth football. Only 5 years after the historic achievement at Changzhou 2026, when U23 Vietnam made history at the AFC U23 Championship, we entered the regional games with great expectations. But the reality in Cambodia exposed a significant gap: between aspiration and actual capability, between structured tactics and limited physical endurance. I followed the team's entire journey at this tournament, and I noticed that the physical fitness issue is not just a SEA Games 32 story, but a structural problem of Vietnamese football. Look at the data from the group stage matches. In the match against U23 Laos, U23 Vietnam controlled possession at 68% but created only 4 dangerous chances. By the match against U23 Singapore, possession dropped to 61%, and the successful press rate in the opponent's final third was only 18%. Compared to U23 Thailand – the tournament champions – who achieved a 34% successful press rate in crucial matches. The difference is not in tactical intent, but in the ability to maintain intensity. On average, U23 Vietnam players ran 108 km per match, while U23 Thailand ran 119 km. This 11 km gap is not a small number – it equals one player running an extra 1 km per match, creating significant differences in the final minutes. I recall the semi-final against U23 Indonesia. The opponent scored in the 110th minute, and I observed that Vietnamese defenders could not keep up with the opposing striker – not due to lack of speed, but because muscles were exhausted. This was the result of playing 4 matches in 10 days, in hot and humid conditions in Cambodia. Coach Philippe Troussier tried to rotate the squad, but the quality gap between the starting lineup and substitutes remained a major weakness. Meanwhile, U23 Thailand had 11 players who could perform at similar levels, allowing them to maintain high intensity throughout the tournament. But I want to offer a different, counter-intuitive perspective. The physical fitness issue of U23 Vietnam is not exclusive to SEA Games 32. It is the result of an underdeveloped youth training system, where players rarely compete at high frequency at the club level. In V-League, teams typically play one match per week, while in European leagues, young players play two matches per week for months on end. This creates a significant difference in recovery ability and adaptation to dense schedules. I have followed Vietnamese youth football since the 1990s, and I notice that we have improved greatly in tactics and technique, but physical fitness remains the missing piece. One detail few noticed: in the bronze medal match against U23 Myanmar, U23 Vietnam played much better than in the semi-final. They pressed higher, moved more flexibly, and won 3-1. What was the difference? Coach Troussier gave the team an extra rest day, allowing better recovery. This shows that physical fitness is not just about the players, but also about the coaching staff's ability to manage the squad and schedule. But we cannot rely on having extra rest days in major tournaments like the Asian Cup or World Cup qualifiers. The question is: how to improve physical fitness for Vietnamese youth football? I believe the answer lies in fundamentally changing the training system's approach. Instead of focusing only on individual technique, we need to build a comprehensive physical training program from teenage years. This requires long-term investment, not only from clubs but also from the Vietnam Football Federation's youth training centers. We need to learn from the Japanese and South Korean models, where young players undergo scientific and systematic physical training. I also want to emphasize that physical fitness is not just an issue for U23. The national team faces similar problems in recent matches. In the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Vietnam had unconvincing second halves, partly due to declining fitness. This is a systemic issue that needs a thorough solution. We cannot rely solely on calling up players with good fitness; we need to build a solid fitness foundation from young age groups. Looking to the future, I believe Vietnamese football has great potential. We have proven our ability to compete with top regional teams. But to go further, we must seriously address the physical fitness challenge. This requires not only financial investment but also a change in mindset. We need to view fitness as an integral part of tactics, not as a supplementary factor. In a match, when players start to tire, tactics become meaningless. That is when fitness decides everything. I have seen this many times in my broadcasting career, from World Cups to regional tournaments. And I believe that if U23 Vietnam can solve this problem, they will become a true force in Southeast Asia, not just in one tournament but for many consecutive years. Vietnamese football is at a crossroads. We can continue to take pride in momentary miracles, or we can build a solid foundation for the future. I choose the second path, and I believe that is also the choice of many Vietnamese football fans. Let us look at what has been achieved and ask ourselves: can we do better? The answer is yes, but only if we are willing to confront the most difficult problems, including the physical fitness challenge.