Vietnam U20 and the Equation of Patience: Don't Celebrate Too Soon, Wait for the Pain to Be Enough

On the last afternoon of August, the sun was still golden on the roads leading to Viet Tri. On the training pitch, the shadows stretched with each step of the young players. They ran, they passed, they breathed the air of a great expectation. I stood outside the fence, watching them, and suddenly remembered a distant Changzhou years ago, where Cong Phuong's tears in the white snow taught me that the pitch never lies, we just haven't been slow enough to listen. Today, the Vietnam U20 team finalized their 23-man squad for the 2027 Asian U20 qualifiers. They will begin their journey in Group C on home soil, where the Viet Tri stands promise to be a sea of red flags. But before talking about victory, let's talk about what I see in this preparation. Two names are mentioned the most: Nguyen Le Phat and Dinh Quang Kiet. They are called 'reinforcements' - soldiers who have been through battles, who have tasted pressure at higher levels. Le Phat, 19, has worn the national team shirt, has won a bronze medal at the Asian U23 Championship with Vietnam U23. Quang Kiet, an ASEAN Cup champion, carries the experience of someone who knows what it's like to be at the top. They are not just players; they are spiritual anchors for a young squad. But I don't want to talk about them as heroes. I want to talk about what's behind this choice. Coach Yutaka Ikeuchi, the Japanese, had 6 friendlies in Japan to experiment. He had time, he had a plan, and he had patience. Finalizing the squad on the day of the opening match is not haste, but a statement: he believes in what he has built. Look at the context of the group. North Korea - a dangerous unknown. Iran - a youth football tradition rich in heritage. Palestine - considered weaker but never to be underestimated. This is not an easy group. And that's when true values are tested. I remember the numbers. How many high-level matches has Le Phat played? What pressure has Quang Kiet stood firm against? These numbers don't tell everything, but they tell the story of growth. When we breathe life into numbers, they are no longer lifeless characters. They become heartbeats, breaths, what the naked eye can't see. There's something I believe many overlook. The presence of these two experienced players could be a double-edged sword. They bring certainty, but also create dependency. If they get injured, if they don't have their best form, will the remaining young players have enough courage to carry the load? This is a question only time and matches can answer. I also want to talk about silence. In the 6 friendlies in Japan, we don't know the results. We only know they trained in a disciplined environment, where Japanese youth football is always highly regarded for organization and tactics. That silence, to me, is a positive signal. It shows focus, thorough preparation without needing to show off. The glory of the defeated is a light only those who stay behind can pick up. I don't want to talk about defeat here. I want to talk about how we, journalists, fans, need to learn to view this preparation calmly. Don't celebrate too soon. Don't place too much expectation on their shoulders. Let them play, let them make mistakes, let them fix themselves. In the stands, I learned to count time by breaths, not minutes. The match against North Korea will be the first test. A good result will open the door. But even if the result isn't as hoped, it's not the end. The tournament has 3 matches, and football always has surprises. The heart still beats, even when the stands have no one clapping. I believe that with thorough preparation, with people who have been through fire, Vietnam U20 has the capability to pass this qualifier. But what matters more is how they pass it. Patience, calmness, and the ability to read the game will be the decisive qualities. We never touch the ball, but the ball always touches us. And in the coming days, the ball will touch the hearts of millions of Vietnamese fans. Let it tell its own story. Let these young men write their own history, not with promises, but with what they show on the pitch. When silent, I hear a whole generation waiting for something crazy. Perhaps, that craziness will start from Viet Tri. Or perhaps, it will come later. Either way, I will still be here, slowly listening, and writing about what the pitch whispers.