Vietnam U22 will be participating in a crucial friendly tournament in China from March 21st, facing off against the U22 teams of South Korea, Uzbekistan, and China. This serves as a valuable opportunity for the teams to prepare for the U23 Asian Qualifiers. However, China U22’s preparation is facing intense criticism from the public.
The controversy surrounding the Chinese U22 team stems from the coaching staff’s controversial decision to call up numerous U20 Chinese players, who had just competed in the U20 Asian Cup, to the U22 squad. Many believe this move was hasty and lacked careful consideration.
On the 163 platform, numerous comments suggest this demonstrates a “rushed” approach to nurturing young talent, potentially harming the players’ future prospects. Comments like, “Promoting U20 players to the U22 squad isn’t a recipe for success. In fact, many fans believe the Chinese U22 coaching staff is actively jeopardizing the future of these U20 players. They’re forcing young players into senior roles without considering their actual capabilities and psychological resilience.”
Specifically, the Chinese U22 coaching staff called up 8 U20 players (Yi Mulan, Kuai Jiwen, Mao Weijie, Yang Xi, Peng Xiao, Chen Zeshi, He Yiran, and Wang Yifan) and two prominent U20 players (Wang Yudong and Liu Chengyu) directly to the national team. This imbalance raises questions about the Chinese U22’s long-term development strategy. Will this approach truly yield results, or is it a risky and unprofessional gamble?
With a packed schedule, Vietnam U22’s preparation for this friendly tournament will be crucial for upcoming matches. Vietnam U22 will be coached by Coach Đinh Hồng Vinh, while Coach Kim Sang Sik is engaged with the national team. Certainly, Vietnam U22’s performance will be closely watched by many fans.
