Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul, head coach of Thailand's U23 national football team, revealed the factors that led to their heavy 2-5 loss against the UAE in the June FIFA Day friendly match.
On 9 June 2026, Coach Wang, Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul, head coach of the "War Elephants", Thailand's U23 national football team, faced the UAE national team in the FIFA Day friendly match held at Pathum Thani Stadium, which had just concluded.
Coach Wang, Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul, said, "It's unfortunate. This was a good game, and we hoped to perform well. This was our last match in the friendly series against the UAE. I must praise the players for their effort. However, several factors affected us, including physical condition. I also tried some new tactics. In the previous game, we didn't change the ball axis much."
"In this game, we used our fullbacks to shift the ball axis more, and the players performed reasonably well. But we lost possession in the upper field and left space behind, which allowed the opposition to attack and score. We also conceded two goals from set pieces. Previously, we had performed well in this aspect, so we need to review and improve."
"Looking ahead, I ask all players for cooperation. The staff is monitoring the players and assigning them tasks to maintain their physical condition. These three matches are like the first round of the Asian Games. We must endure and maintain fitness, especially since we've faced constant pressing since the game against South Korea. Physical condition is crucial. I also ask the fans to continue supporting the Thailand U23 team. I believe that when the system and players are complete, the game will be more exciting and engaging. Please keep cheering for the players."
Meanwhile, the coaching staff will hold another meeting with the Football Association of Thailand to finalize plans for this training camp and to prepare for the men's football competition at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, scheduled for September to October 2026.