Vietnam women's team faces real test: Taiwan is no longer an easy opponent

Vietnam women's team faces real test: Taiwan is no longer an easy opponent to beat. In the quiet corridors of the Changshu Sports Center training facility, where the Vietnamese women's national team has been preparing for the Asian Games 2026, the sound of boots striking the artificial turf is the only rhythm breaking the silence. Every day, head coach Hoang Van Phuc and his staff have been meticulously refining details — from positioning during corner kicks to the between fullbacks — understanding that their 0-1 defeat to Taiwan at the Asian Cup in March was not about player quality, but tactical system incompatibility with the opponent's defensive counter-attacking style. Group A at ASIAD 2026 presents a brutal structure: Japan sits in a different class, almost certainly finishing first. The remaining quarterfinal spot will be contested in a three-way battle between Thailand, Taiwan, and Vietnam. Among these three, Taiwan is the most direct competitor — the winner of this match will hold a significant advantage in the remaining qualification race. The head-to-head history of 10 encounters shows Vietnam once dominated with 5 wins, 2 draws, and 3 losses. But that history is outdated. The 0-1 defeat at the Asian Cup in March serves as a stark reminder: Taiwan has transformed. They are no longer an opponent Vietnam can easily control as they did between 2026-2026. Coach Hoang Van Phuc built his preparation plan with a balance of reality and ambition. The 1-0 victory against Jiangsu Suning provided necessary confidence, while the 0-3 loss to the Chinese women's national team revealed the actual gap with continental powerhouses. But the most important aspect is how the team reacts after each match. I observed video analysis sessions lasting until late night, where every passage of play was reviewed from multiple angles. Taiwan under head coach Chang Cheng-wei has built a disciplined defensive system, waiting for opponents to open up before launching quick counter-attacks through both flanks. The 1-0 victory at the Asian Cup was clear evidence: they accepted lower ball possession but maximized counter-attack opportunities. This poses a difficult problem for Vietnam — high pressing might create chances but also exposes space behind, while playing deep contradicts the team's attacking instincts. Statistics from the 10 previous encounters show Vietnam tends to score when controlling more possession, while Taiwan is more dangerous in direct counter-attack situations. This means the team that controls the match rhythm will have the decisive advantage. For Taiwan, they are willing to cede possession while waiting for opponent mistakes; for Vietnam, the pressure to find a goal could lead to mistakes. GPS data from friendly matches shows Vietnam covering an average of 105-110 km per match — comparable to top regional teams. But notably, the number of sprints in the second half typically decreases by 15-20% compared to the first half — a sign of fatigue in prolonged matches. Positive signals come from the midfield. Central defender Tran Thi Kim Tien, despite being only 23 years old, has demonstrated game-reading ability beyond her age during training sessions. She is not only a defensive anchor but also an initiator of attacks from the back line — something the team lacked in the Asian Cup defeat. On the opposite side, Taiwan has an advantage in international experience. Their squad includes many players who have competed in Japan and Australia — leagues with higher intensity than Vietnamese women's football. Coach Chang Cheng-wei has built a playing style based on combining East Asian defensive discipline with quick state transitions — a style that many Southeast Asian teams are still learning. My prediction: Vietnam will win 1-0 or draw 0-0 and win on penalties. The reason is simple — the Vietnamese women's national team has superior squad quality compared to Taiwan in the attacking department, and the training ground advantage in China will prove decisive in the most crucial moments. But to achieve this, the entire team must overcome the psychological pressure from head-to-head history and focus on the present. The next question is not whether Vietnam can beat Taiwan, but how the team will perform under pressure when everything goes according to plan — and when it doesn't.