Brazil Coach Warns About One Thing Ahead of Vietnam vs Indonesia Major Match

Before the decisive match against U17 Indonesia in Group A of the 2026 Southeast Asia U17 Championship, Coach Cristiano Roland shared noteworthy insights regarding the preparation of U17 Vietnam.

U17 Vietnam enters this match with high confidence following two decisive victories over Malaysia (4-0) and Timor Leste (10-0), scoring a total of 14 goals and conceding none. However, according to Coach Roland, these results are only indicative and do not fully reflect the situation when facing U17 Indonesia.

According to CNN Indonesia, Coach Roland stated: “The players are still very young; they need to learn, and the journey ahead is long. I am pleased because they always strive in every training session and match, and that is the most important thing at this moment.”

The Brazilian strategist also emphasized that at the youth level, winning or losing is not the key factor; more important is the players' development process. He added: “They have a spirit of learning and growth. Playing in matches like this is very beneficial for their progress. In football, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose.”

Notably, Coach Roland particularly highlighted the importance of tactical discipline and the ability to maintain focus under pressure from opponents. He affirmed: “The most crucial thing is that the players must demonstrate their full capability and understand the playing style we have built; that is the key point.”

On the opposite side, U17 Indonesia also shows thorough preparation. Coach Kurniawan Dwi Yulianto acknowledges the strength of U17 Vietnam. He shared: “We know Vietnam has been dominant in the first two matches. But in football, nothing is impossible. The important thing is the players' mentality; they must not feel defeated before the match even begins.”

Additionally, U17 Indonesia focuses on improving tactics, especially defensive aspects to minimize mistakes. Kurniawan said: “We ask the players to believe in the team's strength, but not to be overly confident. It is crucial not to make basic mistakes, particularly in the defensive area. The players need to concentrate throughout the entire 90 minutes.”

The encounter between U17 Vietnam and U17 Indonesia, taking place on April 19 at Joko Samudro Stadium, is considered the "early final" of Group A. The match result will directly determine the ticket to the semifinals, promising a tense and tactically rich showdown between the two top regional teams.