Nguyen is fresher... but the gold will stay in Thailand.
“Thailand and Vietnam” are meeting as scheduled in the men's football final of the SEA Games.
Yesterday, I had the chance to watch both semifinal matches from the sidelines at Rajamangala National Stadium.
I must thank the team of Madam Pang for kindly taking care of me, since I no longer have a media ID like I used to.
After watching the games closely from start to finish with my own eyes, I have to admit that
the Nguyen-named Vietnamese players clearly showed superior football compared to the Thai national team.
Although they scored two goals to beat a strong Philippine side in a tense finish,
their attacking play quality improved noticeably compared to their two matches in the group stage.
In contrast, our Thai team played cautiously against Malaysia, just managing to reach the final.
Other things can be discussed later!
Besides the lone goal from a precise free kick early in the game by “Jao Mix” Yotsakorn Burapha,
the Thai players did not offer much to impress the football fans.
Many seemed stuck and unable to perform, making the game less fluid and exciting than expected.
In fact, with the Yellow Tigers reduced to ten men, Thailand had a numerical advantage and should have pressed harder.
Instead, Malaysia’s ten men counterattacked sharply several times, causing Thai defenders to panic.
Fortunately, “Jao Phet” Sarawat Phosamun, our goalkeeper, was calm and reliable, not rattled by defensive errors.
Those mistakes led to several scary close-range shots on goal.
In short, the Thai players were disappointing and not meeting fans’ expectations, yet they still reached the gold medal match.
Honestly, we must sympathize with “Coach Wang” Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul,
who has been trying to manage the team in each match to achieve the best possible results.
Remember, the SEA Games tournament is not held during a FIFA international window.
Meanwhile, the Football Association has not suspended the domestic league to allow players to train fully with the national team.
Many key players have had to shuttle back and forth between the national camp and their clubs, as we have seen.
How can they not be exhausted and worn out? Can they endure it?
This contrasts with Vietnam, which is fully committed to winning the SEA Games gold on our soil.
They even suspended their domestic league to enable their national team to focus entirely on the SEA Games.
It’s no surprise to see the Vietnamese players energetic, running like horses.
I guess Coach Kim Sang-sik wants to make history,
leading his young Golden Star team to claim the gold at Rajamangala.
Just like earlier this year when the senior Vietnamese team
came to Thailand and painfully lifted the ASEAN championship trophy in front of Thai fans.
However, as the saying goes, “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
Our Thai team may have played poorly and not shown their best form,
but that doesn’t mean we must lose to Vietnam again on home soil.
The SEA Games football final is decided in a single match, and anything can happen.
Remember, the standards of the 22-23 year-old players across ASEAN are quite similar.
It depends on the coach’s intelligence in planning, tactics, and player selection.
Who fits best on that particular day will make the difference.
Hopefully, on Thursday, 18 Dec, everything will go in “Coach Wang’s” favor.
I admit the Vietnamese players have been fresher and better so far.
But in the end, I confidently predict without fear of being wrong that
the SEA Games gold medal this time
will stay in Thailand, gentlemen!!!
Bee Bangpakong
joggingboy_be@yahoo.com