Japanese fans comment on Vietnam U23 after reaching the quarterfinals

In the early hours of January 11, after Japan U23 secured their spot in the AFC U23 Championship quarterfinals early, many Japanese supporters paid special attention to Vietnam U23.

On the morning of January 11 (Vietnam time), the first team to qualify for the AFC U23 Championship quarterfinals was officially revealed, and the name was not surprising: Japan U23.

The “Blue Samurai” continued to assert their status as top contenders for the title by winning both matches in Group B. In their opening game, Japan U23 easily defeated Syria U23 with a dominant 5-0 scoreline, then extended their impressive run with a convincing 3-0 victory over UAE U23. With a perfect 6 points and a superior head-to-head record, the East Asian team secured the top spot in Group B regardless of the last match result against Qatar U23.

Right after securing an early quarterfinal berth, the Japanese fan community quickly turned their focus to potential knockout stage opponents. Notably, Vietnam U23 (currently leading Group A) was frequently mentioned in discussions.

One Japanese fan expressed excitement: “I want to face Vietnam U23 after the group stage. It will definitely be an extremely thrilling match.”

Another opinion stated: “If we meet Vietnam, it will surely be intense. They play with great passion and determination.”

Some fans even rated Vietnam U23 as the toughest challenge: “We will face the second place team from Group A. If it’s Vietnam, they might be the most difficult opponent.”

These responses show that Vietnam U23 is gaining considerable respect from Japanese fans after their impressive group stage performances. However, this situation also puts coach Kim Sang Sik’s team in a position where they must aim to top Group A if they want to avoid an early quarterfinal clash with Japan U23.

To achieve this, Vietnam U23 needs at least a draw in their final group match against Saudi Arabia U23. If they succeed, the Red team will avoid the “Blue Samurai” and only face Syria U23 or UAE U23 in the quarterfinals.