Malaysian Fans: 'Don't go to Europe or Japan, learn from Vietnam'

The defeat in the Southeast Asian U17 final awakened Malaysian fans, prompting surprising opinions that FAM should learn from Vietnam rather than focusing on Europe or Japan.

The 0-3 defeat to Vietnam's U17 team in the Southeast Asian U17 final not only disappointed Malaysian fans but also sparked intense debate. On forums and social media recently, many fans frankly acknowledged the gap in football standards between the two countries, especially after Vietnam's U17 team's outstanding performance in the decisive match.

Many expressed bitter acceptance of the current reality. One fan shared: “It’s bitter, but we must admit that Vietnam's players are far ahead of us now.” Notably, instead of looking toward major football powers as before, many suggested a different approach: learn directly from Vietnam – the team that convincingly defeated them. This also became a key point in fan reactions after the match.

The call for change became more pronounced as some fans emphasized the role of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). “Instead of learning from Europe or Japan, FAM should better go to Vietnam to learn. See how they consistently perform well against strong opponents even at the Asian level,” an opinion that gained much agreement.

Not only at the national team level, Malaysian fans also view Vietnam's youth training system as a model. “We shouldn’t hesitate to go to Vietnam to seek football development knowledge. They play systematically at all levels, even the youngest age groups,” another fan remarked, showing high regard for the systematic and stable nature of Vietnamese football.

Meanwhile, there were also encouraging voices mixed with calls for reform. “This team reaching the final is already an encouraging achievement, let’s support them more. But Malaysia’s football plans really need to change... truly must change!” a fan wrote, reflecting a sentiment of both supporting the team and desiring strategic change.

In reality, this defeat occurred as Vietnam's U17 team demonstrated superior strength in the region. Coach Cristiano Roland’s team not only won convincingly 3-0 in the final but also set a record with four Southeast Asian U17 championships, surpassing both Thailand and Australia. Vietnam's U17 also maintained a 16-match unbeaten streak, scoring 59 goals and conceding only 4.

That stability and systematic development made many Malaysian fans reconsider. As the gap becomes clearer, the call to learn from Vietnam is no longer a minority view but is becoming widespread – a sign that pressure for reform is growing in Malaysian football.