Coach Bo speaks frankly ahead of Thailand U20's clash with Iraq as they aim to qualify for the Asian Championship.
"Coach Bo" urges the Thailand U20 team to defeat Iraq to guarantee advancement to the final stage, insisting that settling for just one point is not an option.
Jakrapan Panpi, head coach of Thailand's U20 national football team, has urged his players to beat Iraq in their next match to secure a place in the Asian Championship finals after defeating Turkmenistan in the AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers, Group F, match two.
In that match, Thailand U20 narrowly beat Turkmenistan U20 1-0 with a winning goal from Siwa Pikulhom, bringing their total to six points from two games.
"The first half was tough; our gameplay was somewhat sluggish, and our passing was slower than our opponents. Turkmenistan played well, but we adjusted at halftime. The players met the target of securing three points. At halftime, we focused on avoiding turnovers, controlling space between lines, and crossing. We practiced these, telling the players this was the key, and it paid off when we scored. It’s good to score from a practiced play."
"We still face issues with final touches—last passes and building attacks in the opponent's half aren't smooth yet. Our counterattack transitions lack continuity, often intercepted by opponents. I've emphasized that when we counter, we must avoid turnovers and release the ball quickly."
"The next game against Iraq remains uncertain because Iraq also needs a win to advance. We can’t settle for just one point. We must follow our strategy and aim for victory to secure qualification. It will be a tough match, as we expected the competition to intensify. We must work on improvements to win and guarantee our place in China."
Thailand U20 will next compete in the AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifiers, Group F, match three against Iraq U20 at Chonburi Stadium on 6 Sep 2026 at 19:30. The match will be broadcast live on Thairath TV Channel 32, www.thairath.co.th/tv/live, Facebook: Thairath TV, Thairath Sport, and YouTube: Thairath Sport.
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