Thai football still has some fortune!!
It was a truly nerve-wracking live football match, one of the most heart-stopping for me.
An extremely thrilling victory for the Thai national football warriors, so tense it made you almost lose control.
At the Rajamangala Stadium, they narrowly defeated Turkmenistan in a thrilling 2-1 match.
They claimed the group championship and secured their ticket to the final round of the 2027 Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia, fulfilling the hopes of Banglamphu.
Watching this match amid a crowd of nearly 40,000 fans,
I was reminded of an old Hollywood movie.
Apologies for not recalling its name, but the story was about a heroine faced with two life choices.
Whether she went left or right, she would face completely different experiences.
Similarly, it mirrors the decisions of “President Pang” Nualphan Lamsam and the technical team of the Football Association,
with a character playing the role of “drama” victim, Samasa Tadah Ishii, serving as a critical factor.
From the beginning of the story to the end,
the question was how the outcome would ultimately turn out.
Yesterday’s game stirred a wide range of emotions throughout the intense 90 minutes that are hard to describe.
It began with a surge of enthusiasm when “Jao Save” Suphanan Bureerat headed the ball to put the War Elephants ahead at the 15th minute.
Everyone on the field then felt relaxed, believing we were superior to Turkmenistan in every aspect.
We only needed a second goal to likely seal the match.
But as the game went on, we couldn’t find a chance to add to the score, and unease began to grow.
There was a fear of when the equalizer might come.
And it indeed happened in the 60th minute of the second half, from a sudden shot by a Turkmen player, unexpected and unprepared for.
The score was tied at 1-1.
With this score, it meant we would be eliminated from the tournament.
With just the last half hour left, stress and pressure immediately overwhelmed the Thai team.
Though pressing hard, we only created scares and near misses, and as time ran out, the tension grew unbearably intense.
Finally, in the 88th minute, from two or three successive corner kicks by “Coach Oum” Theerathon Bunmathan,
the ball was delivered perfectly to the head of Manuel Tom Bihr, who nodded it into the net.
That was it... everything unfolded and ended happily for all parties.
In conclusion, the choice that the heroine, “Madam Pang,” made that day,
was the right one today!
Previously, firing coach Ishii was a major gamble that deeply affected the faith of Thai football fans nationwide.
Imagine if we hadn’t beaten Turkmenistan yesterday, what might have happened.
It wouldn’t have been just “The Tuck” Piyapong Piew-on who had prepared his resignation letter alone.
I also heard that “Madam Pang” was ready to announce her resignation as football president immediately after the game.
To take responsibility right after the match as well.
Fortunately, this story is a classic drama that wasn’t too harsh on the heroine.
I think “Thai football” still has some fortune, at least from those who love and sincerely dedicate themselves to the sport.
They receive some reward from their hopes fulfilled... like a balm to the soul.
We have learned many lessons from this case.
Ishii is the past that we must move beyond.
Coach Anthony Hudson and “Madam Pang’s” management represent the present,
with many difficult challenges still ahead.
Right or wrong, we should critique and adjust appropriately for the better.
The future of the “Thai national team” and “Thai football”—whether to advance or retreat—
depends on the spirit of all Thai people!!!
- Bee Bangpakong -