Former VFF Official Duong Vu Lam: Coach Ikeuchi Yutaka Lacks Experience, U20 Vietnam Faces Relegation Risk

The 0-3 loss to U20 North Korea in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers reminded me of my days on the coaching bench. Not because of the scoreline, but because of how the team operated on the pitch. Fragmented coordination, passes lacking ideas, and a defense exposing vast spaces – all signs of a collective that hasn't found its voice. U20 Vietnam is facing a major risk in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. After two consecutive losses to U20 North Korea (0-3) and U20 Palestine (1-2), coach Ikeuchi Yutaka's squad will face U20 Iran on September 6. Another defeat would mean relegation for the young Vietnamese team at the continental level – a significant shock for a football nation that has made considerable progress in recent years. Former VFF official Duong Vu Lam has been straightforward in pointing out the core problems of the current U20 team. According to him, coach Ikeuchi Yutaka lacks practical experience in handling situations and doesn't fully understand his players. "Coach Ikeuchi Yutaka lacks experience in handling situations at U20 Vietnam and seems not to fully understand his players," Duong Vu Lam assessed. This is evident in the team's lack of smooth operation, especially when compared to U23 Vietnam under coach Kim Sang Sik or U17 Vietnam under coach Cristiano Roland – teams that have achieved success in major tournaments. The most notable point in Duong Vu Lam's analysis is the team's failure to utilize experienced V-League players. Center-back Dinh Quang Kiet, standing at 1m95, is a prime example. With ideal height and physique, this player is fully capable of marking top Asian strikers, yet he hasn't been used much in the squad. This raises major questions about how coach Ikeuchi Yutaka selects and uses his personnel. "U20 Vietnam may have misjudged their opponents and failed to utilize their squad strengths, which is the head coach's problem," Duong Vu Lam emphasized. Indeed, looking at the squad list with names like Tran Gia Bao, Nguyen Le Phat, and Dinh Quang Kiet, player quality isn't the issue. The problem lies in organization, execution, and maximizing each individual's potential. Another important point the former VFF official addressed is rejecting the excuse about naturalized players. According to him, U23 Vietnam's success at the Asian Cup (third place) and U17 Vietnam's success at the Southeast Asian Championship prove that Vietnam's youth training quality can produce strong teams without naturalized players. Therefore, blaming the lack of naturalized players is unfounded. "Youth football reflects the training quality of each football nation," Duong Vu Lam emphasized. "U20 Vietnam's poor performance is due to tactical, gameplay, and form issues, not the lack of naturalized players." This is a sharp assessment, placing responsibility directly on the coaching staff and their approach to matches. Regarding public opinion questioning the suitability of Japanese coaches for Vietnamese football, Duong Vu Lam believes it's too early to conclude. However, the reality on the pitch is showing difficulties in connecting coach Ikeuchi Yutaka's football philosophy with the psychology and personality of young Vietnamese players. V-League players may have strong personalities, making it difficult to fit them into the Japanese coach's tactical framework. The match against U20 Iran on September 6 is not just a formality. It's a decisive match for U20 Vietnam's fate in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers. If they lose and get relegated, the impact will be significant for Vietnamese youth football development. The entire youth training system, from academies to youth teams, will be affected in a chain reaction. Looking back, Vietnamese football has had coaches who understood Vietnamese player psychology like Hoang Anh Tuan or Kim Sang Sik – those who achieved success with youth teams. The difference lies in the ability to connect, understand, and convey tactics appropriately to each group of players. This is a lesson coach Ikeuchi Yutaka needs to learn if he wants to turn the situation around. The ball doesn't lie, but the writer can. From the desk to the pitch is a long journey; every step requires belief in yourself. Numbers tell part of the story; the rest lies in mud-stained boots. For U20 Vietnam, the story isn't over yet. But without timely changes in tactics and personnel usage, the risk of relegation is very real.