"Coach Wang" urges the Thai national team to focus on two things before facing Vietnam in the SEA Games final after defeating Malaysia with 10 men.
On 15 December 2025, Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul, head coach of Thailand's men's football team at the 2025 SEA Games, spoke after the men's football semifinal match at the 33rd SEA Games.
In this match, Thailand narrowly beat Malaysia 1-0 thanks to a winning goal by Yotsakorn Burapha in the 8th minute. After that, no more goals were scored despite Malaysia playing with only 10 men after Nabil Yusuf was sent off with a yellow-red card in the 16th minute.
Coach Wang, Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul, spoke about Thailand's quest to reclaim the SEA Games title after eight years and aim for their 17th gold medal: "We achieved our goal by advancing past the semifinals to the final. This brings us closer to the target we've set. The management, players, myself, and the fans all have one goal: to win the SEA Games championship this time."
"As for the final against Vietnam, they are one of the best teams in ASEAN. We had anticipated the chance to meet them in the final and want to prove ourselves. Last time, we reached the ASEAN championship final but lost on penalties to Indonesia in the semifinals. Now we have the opportunity to face Vietnam again. Our goal is to win the gold medal. To reclaim the number one spot in ASEAN, we must overcome strong teams."
"(Two things to do) What needs adjustment? Mainly physical recovery. I spoke with the players that no matter who we face, we must not be afraid. Malaysia is a quality team with great team spirit and deserves praise. Even with only ten men from the first half, they competed well. We need to focus on control. With two days before the final, the key is physical recovery. Every player must be ready for the final, which should be an even more exciting game."
"For the final, the squad is complete with all 23 players available. Now it’s about how we recover physically. Many players are carrying loads. We’ve tried to limit playing time for those who recently played in league matches over the past two days. We rely on their quality, but our bodies must endure and avoid injuries. We didn’t want to overuse them in this game. Looking ahead to the final, recovery over these two matches will help many players feel refreshed."
"I think last time, the players were in pre-season condition, but now before the SEA Games, we've gone through several training camps. Physically, we should be better than before. Team chemistry is better than when we went to Indonesia, though there are still many areas to improve."
"I want to thank the fans for their support in the semifinals. Our goal was to reach the final, and now our next goal is to win the SEA Games. I invite the fans to come cheer the players on. I believe the crowd’s support will boost the players’ spirits for the match on 18 December. Also, thanks to the association president who gave encouragement, blessings, and a bonus of one million baht before the match."
The 2025 SEA Games men's football final will see Thailand face Vietnam at Rajamangala National Stadium on Thursday, 18 December 2025, at 19:30.
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