U20 Vietnam loses two matches, Japanese coach Ikeuchi Yutaka criticized for lack of experience, relegation risk before Iran

The U20 Vietnam national team has just suffered two heavy defeats in the Asian Cup U20 qualifiers, losing 0-3 to North Korea and 1-2 to Palestine, making Japanese coach Ikeuchi Yutaka the focus of criticism. An analysis by former VFF official Duong Vu Lam reveals that the core issue lies in poor tactical coordination and failure to utilize the strengths of experienced V-League players. The big question is: Why has this young team, with talent from the academy system, faltered so quickly? The context shows U20 Vietnam is in danger of relegation in the Asian Cup U20 if they fail to improve. These two losses not only shake the team's position but also impact the entire national youth football development system. According to the analysis, the lack of stability in coordination and squad utilization makes it difficult for coach Ikeuchi Yutaka to control situations. Players like Đinh Quang Kiệt (1.95m), Trần Gia Bảo, and Nguyễn Lê Phát have potential but are rarely playing, leading to wasted talent. The core analysis shows that the U20 Vietnam team's tactical setup and execution are outdated and non-innovative compared to the U23 and U17 Vietnam teams that have achieved good results in major tournaments. Coach Ikeuchi Yutaka seems not to fully understand his Vietnamese players, making it hard to solve problems in time. Although losing 0-3 to North Korea might be understandable given the strong opponent, the 1-2 loss to Palestine is more concerning because Palestine is a weaker side. This indicates the Vietnamese team is not using its strengths effectively. The contrarian view is that one should not blame the naturalized players, but the issue is the coach's lack of experience. The successful U23 and U17 Vietnam teams proved this without foreign players, showing the domestic training system is sufficient. Tall players like Đinh Quang Kiệt, who can dominate defenders, are not used effectively. This shows the coach lacks practical experience in adapting to Vietnamese football's strong personalities. From experience following U20 Vietnam matches, the lack of smooth coordination is evident compared to other youth teams. Pressing and ball transition phases are not well executed, allowing opponents to exploit. Coach Ikeuchi Yutaka's limited experience in this area makes it hard to build a flexible system. Instead of forcing players into a rigid model, adjustments are needed to utilize Đinh Quang Kiệt's height and the ball control of other key players. Football history in Vietnam shows youth teams have great potential if led correctly. U23 once finished third in the Asian Cup, U17 once won SEA Games without naturalized players. This lesson shows the problem is not with the players but how the coach applies tactics. With relegation risk after the Iran match on September 6, time is short to fix. Experts advise strengthening understanding of Vietnamese players and changing tactics immediately. In this situation, not using Đinh Quang Kiệt regularly is a big mistake. The 1.95m center-back can dominate the penalty area but sits on the bench. Similarly, Trần Gia Bảo and Nguyễn Lê Phát have important roles but are not exploited. This creates a gap in the squad, reducing overall strength. Compared to opponents, U20 Vietnam is in a low position, near the danger zone. Further analysis shows the coach lacks experience in handling situations, leading to inability to solve problems quickly. Recent match reports highlight the lack of coordination as the key factor. Without change, relegation risk will be high, affecting Vietnamese football's reputation. The advice from the analysis is to adjust tactics, increase use of V-League players, and learn from successful coaches like Hoàng Anh Tuán and Kim Sang Sik. These youth teams have shown Vietnamese football can be self-sufficient without foreign players. Immediate improvement will help maintain prestige and develop talent. Overall, the U20 Vietnam situation is at a critical point. The two recent losses are not just results but reflect deep tactical problems. Coach Ikeuchi Yutaka needs to learn how to understand Vietnamese players to build a suitable team. Players like Đinh Quang Kiệt will be the key if played at the right time. Watching the Iran match, if no improvement, Vietnamese football will face major consequences.