The Vietnam U17 team continued to practice to prepare for the second match in the group stage, against a very strong opponent, Japan U17.

According to the match schedule, the Vietnam U17 team will meet Japan U17 in the second match of Group B, taking place on April 7. As one of the factors contributing to the Vietnam U16 team that won 1-0 against Japan U16 at the international U16 tournament held in China in 2024, goalkeeper Hoa Xuan Tin commented: “The Japanese U17 squad has changed a lot compared to before, but they are always a candidate for the championship of the tournament. As for Vietnam U17, the whole team determined that in the group stage, every match is a final match. We have also carefully studied our opponents and always aim to win 3 points.”

The goalkeeper also said that the coaching staff and the U17 Vietnam players have prepared carefully for the upcoming match. “I also watched the video of the U17 Japan match and saw that most of their goals came from crosses for striker number 10 to head. I discussed with my teammates to mark the person in the penalty area. I will try to control the penalty area well, and further up, my teammates will support me,” said Xuan Tin.

When asked about the ability to keep a clean sheet against Japan U17, Xuan Tin shared: "This is unpredictable, but if I continue to be trusted, I will try my best."

Goalkeeper Hoa Xuan Tin said that after the draw with Australia, the whole team is very excited and focused on the match with Japan: “The opening match is always a difficult match for all teams. However, when entering the match, the whole team always has the spirit of aiming for victory. The team was unlucky to be behind in the first half, but we still kept our spirit and did not give up, played better in the second half and scored the equalizer. We also had some attacking situations but were still unlucky to score a goal.”

Talking about his feelings when he first started playing in a continental tournament, the young goalkeeper confided: “Before the match, I felt very nervous because it was my first time playing on a continental stage. I tried to keep my spirit up to protect the goal for my team.”

Having just played the opening match against U17 Australia, head coach Cristiano Roland and the coaching staff adjusted the amount of exercise in the training session to ensure the best physical condition for the whole team.

Accordingly, the players were divided into two groups. The group that played more than 60 minutes in the match against U17 Australia only participated in relaxation and recovery exercises. The remaining group was trained in additional tactical exercises, focusing on team coordination, as well as attack and defense situations.

Aiming for a good result against Japan U17 – the strongest opponent in Group B and also a candidate for the championship of the tournament, Coach Cristiano Roland spent extra time at the end of the training session to practice coordination and finishing skills. He made very strict demands on his players in every shot, and emphasized that when facing a strong opponent, every opportunity in front of the goal must be fully utilized.