The Thailand national team is unlikely to miss reaching the ASEAN Cup 2026 final, which might cause some concern for Vietnam!
Anthony Hudson rested Teerasak, Phayomai, Seksan Ratree, Kakhana Kamyok, and Yotsakorn Burapha because they had yellow cards from the last group stage match against Myanmar. He feared they might face suspension for this game, and he was right.
In this match, Hudson started all four players, with Teerasak scoring 2 goals and providing 1 assist, while Seksan scored 1 goal, gave 1 assist, and was named Man of the Match.
Our gameplay was not pretty, which is undeniable. We held only 27% possession in the first half and 29% in the second half, less than Singapore, but what mattered was that we won.
Sometimes, "football doesn't have to be beautiful all the time." The final score is more important. Remember, we were playing away in Singapore, a team we lost to 1-3 in the first leg of the 2012 final. So Singapore was not an easy opponent for Thailand.
Credit is due to all Thai players who have scored 13 goals and conceded just 1 over 5 games. It's not easy to achieve. Some say the "War Elephants" haven't yet faced a real challenge like Vietnam. From my perspective, Vietnam might be a bit worried seeing how well we play because we have exceeded expectations.
Another point to note and be proud of is that 7 of Thailand's starting 11 against "Lod Chong" are under 23 years old: Teerasak, Seksan, Kakhana, Yotsakorn, Chaipol, Usamma, and Waris. This is the new generation of the "War Elephants," representing the team's long-term future. We have seen these players' potential—they have "passed" at the ASEAN football level.
On Tuesday, 18 Aug 2025 GMT+7, in the second leg of the semi-final, Thailand is unlikely to miss reaching the ASEAN Cup 2026 final. Tickets are still available at Rajamangala Stadium. Anyone available, come support the War Elephants!