The main public sport at the 33rd SEA Games is football, both men’s and women’s, with all semifinal matchups now confirmed.
The final men's group stage match saw Indonesia, the defending champions and SEA Games gold medalists from two years ago, defeat Myanmar 3-1.
However, this was not enough for Indonesia to advance to the semifinals, so their journey ended here.
It was Malaysia, the “Yellow Tigers,” who edged ahead on goal difference to reach the semifinals against Thailand, as expected.
The men’s SEA Games football semifinals are scheduled for Monday, 15 December, at Rajamangala Stadium.
The first match will be Vietnam, Group B champions, facing the Philippines, Group C champions, at 15:30.
The second match will be Thailand, Group A champions, against Malaysia, the best second-place team from Group B, at 20:00.
PPTV HD 36 and TrueVisions NOW will broadcast these matches live nationwide.
The real test of strength in the SEA Games football competition truly begins at the semifinals.
It will show which of the four teams that have advanced are the genuine contenders!
Regarding Thailand’s performance in the group stage, the two matches don’t reveal much.
This is because they faced weaker teams like Timor-Leste and Singapore, both of which Thailand beat comfortably.
These matches were more like warm-ups to test the players in the squad.
The real challenge to measure our strength is the knockout match against the Malaysian players.
Most of Malaysia’s players are the same squad that faced us in the U-23 Asian Championship qualifiers at Thammasat University Rangsit Campus.
In that match, the young Thai team barely managed to beat them, with a near heart-stopping effort.
A winning goal in injury time by “Seafour” Kakhana Kamyok secured Thailand’s spot in the Asian Cup finals by the narrowest margin.
It will be interesting to see how the rematch against the Yellow Tigers unfolds in this crucial match.
Will Thailand’s squad come together and perform well in every position as coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul, known as “Coach Wang,” hopes?
Some key players like Kakhana and Waris Chuthong still have club commitments in the Thai League.
BG Pathum United will host Muangthong United this Sunday.
We all hope that neither player gets injured, as they will need to continue playing for the national team on Monday.
There is concern about fatigue from playing intense matches so close together.
It is then up to Coach Wang to decide how to use these two key players to maximize benefit for the team.
This is a crucial game that absolutely cannot be missed.
The women’s SEA Games football semifinals will be played a day earlier, on Sunday, 14 December, at Chonburi Stadium.
The first match will be between defending champions Vietnam and Indonesia at 16:00.
Then, the Thai women's team will play the Philippines at 18:30.
These matches will also be broadcast live on PPTV HD 36 and TrueVisions NOW.
The match between Thailand and the Filipinas is a highly anticipated five-star match.
It is a rematch of the 2022 ASEAN final, in which Thailand was defeated 0-3 by the Philippines.
That victory marked the first time the Filipino women’s team won the ASEAN championship, making history.
Like the men’s team, the Thailand women’s football team has changed coaches, returning from the “Japan way” to the “Thailand way.”
Their ultimate goal is to reclaim the gold medal that they have long awaited.
Thus, the mission of Coach Wang Thawatchai is similar to that of Coach Nueng Nuengrutai Sarathongvian, who leads the “Chaba Kaew” team.
Both carry the heavy pressure of the entire nation’s football fans’ hopes on their shoulders.
Remember, the SEA Games are being held on home soil, in our own country.
If the gold medal is not won this time... then when will it be?
Bee Bangpakong
joggingboy_be@yahoo.com