The ancients said... A good start often means more than half the victory is won.
In the opening match of the 2026 ASEAN Cup, the Thai national football team
performed outstandingly beyond expectations!
The War Elephants crossed the Mekong to thrash Laos decisively, 5-0.
They rose to lead Group B with confidence.
Actually, securing 3 points against Laos was not very surprising.
But scoring five goals on their home turf is quite remarkable.
Especially since this Thai squad is not the main senior team but a mix of veterans and U23 youth players.
Their performance was brilliant, impressive, and very promising.
Every player showed PASSION and a true hunger for victory from start to finish.
They played smooth, decisive offense, with scoring chances almost every time they entered the opponent’s half.
Defensively, they performed well, quickly pressing to recover the ball whenever possession was lost.
The 23-year-old War Elephants players who played did not disappoint the fans.
Each showed sharp, impactful performances.
“Jay Mix” Yotsakorn Burapha scored his first goal for the senior national team, fulfilling his wish.
“C4” Kokhana Kamyok dazzled with flair, scoring a brace by himself.
Meanwhile, rising star Chaipol Adton from Port FC easily passed his test.
He worked smoothly alongside “Captain Tang” Sarach Yooyen in midfield.
Substitutes brought on in the second half also
— Usamma Tiangkam, Waris Chuthong, Chawalwit Saelao, and Jehanafi Mama —
came on seamlessly replacing the starters.
Only “Jay Golf” Seksan Ratri seemed quieter than usual, less sharp than in the past.
But overall, it caused no harm to the team.
As for the Player of the Match in this game,
the AFF awarded it to “Jay Ton” Teerasak Phaepimai, who headed in the opening goal for the War Elephants.
However, in my view, the standout player both offensively and defensively
was probably Sarach Yooyen, the experienced 34-year-old captain of the Thai national team.
His two assists and a precise, powerful long-range shot that found the net clearly
proved to everyone who was the best performer!
This beautiful victory that brought joy to Thai fans
should be fully credited to the coach, Anthony Hudson.
It shows that the intense criticism of his team management in previous games
must have had a positive effect.
You can see that Coach Hudson has started to adjust the War Elephants’ tactics significantly.
He no longer focuses on a safe, defensive playstyle as before.
Instead, he is naturally drawing out the players’ potential in each position, making the team enjoyable to watch.
This is how the Thai national team, “Number 1 in ASEAN,” should play to be truly exciting.
The next challenge will be the real test against the “Yellow Tigers,” Malaysia, their longtime rivals.
Malaysia won their first match, beating Myanmar 2-1 away.
They will visit us at Rajamangala Stadium on the evening of Saturday, 1 Aug 2026.
We hope the War Elephants, who started so thrillingly, will continue their strong performance.
It’s a pity that the Thai national team’s momentum is growing.
If this match were broadcast on free TV like before,
interest and excitement would surely ignite wildly!
- Bee Bangpakong -