Don't Just Look at the Score: Coach Wang shares 3 things he's proud of in Thailand U23 despite losing to Vietnam at VTV Cup 2026, 10 Nov 2026 GMT+7. It highlights the coach's perspective beyond the match result.
On 10 Nov 2026, Coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul, head coach of Thailand's U23 men's football team, gave an interview after their first match in the U23 GIA LAI - VTV CUP 2026 International Friendly held in Gia Lai city, Vietnam.
The result saw Thailand U23 lose 0-3 to Vietnam U23 in their opening match. Thailand remains scoreless and ranks last among four teams, while Vietnam secured 3 points to lead the group.
Coach Wang stated, "Of course, the result is not what we wanted. But what I saw was every player trying hard to support each other, both offensively and defensively. They gave their best, and we need to improve in the next game."
"This squad mostly consists of players new to the team. We have only seen part of their form, but what makes me proud is their fighting spirit. I believe with readiness of heart and more time playing together, they will definitely improve."
"Today we learned from our future opponents. This experience is a lesson we will build on for upcoming competitions like the SEA Games and others. I believe we can develop our current players to compete with Vietnam in the future."
"Another important matter is player injuries. We take this seriously. We tried to field those who did not play on Sunday. Some had no game, others played Saturday. We aim to protect players as much as possible."
"We focus on players' physical condition to send them back to their clubs fully fit. Both Thailand and Vietnam played fair, and I commend both teams for adhering to the rules."
Thailand U23's next match in the U23 GIA LAI - VTV CUP 2026 International Friendly will be against Qatar at Pleiku Stadium, Gia Lai city, Vietnam, on 12 Nov 2026 at 15:00 GMT+7.
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