AFF Cup 2022: Thailand team and the Rubik's game

Thailand and Vietnam are still strong candidates for the championship.AFF CUP 2022and of course both have to study each other's moves. How has the Thai team renewed their tactics?

Use domestic goods

At the AFF Cup 2022, Thailand is in the same group with Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Brunei. Coach Mano Polking has only 7 players left from the previous tournament: defenders Theerathon Bunmathan, Kritsada Kaman, midfielders Sarach Yooyen, Bordin Phala, Weerathep Pomphan and strikers Adisak Kraisorn, Teerasil Dangda spread across 3 lines. Of the 24 Thai players, only 1 plays abroad, Sanrawat Dechmitr. This midfielder is playing for the Malaysian club Kedah. The remaining members of the team all play domestically, because the AFF Cup 2022 is not part of FIFA's official tournament system, so clubs do not release players.

Coach Mano Polking is loyal to the 4-4-2 formation. Photo: Changsuker

Ms. Nualphan Lamsam (nicknamed Madame Pang) will continue to take on the role of head of the Thai team, working alongside Coach Mano Polking to bring the Thai team to the 7th AFF Cup. Having been involved in Thai football since 2012, Coach Mano Polking understands the football of this country as well as the region very well, especially this Brazilian coach used to be the head coach of Ho Chi Minh City Club. Coach Mano Polking understands the Vietnamese players and his colleague from Korea very well.

Coach Mano Polking's attack line includes 3 names: Teerasil Dangda (BG Pathum United), Adisak Kraisorn, Poramet Arjvirai (Muang Thong United). The 34-year-old veteran Dangda has played 116 matches, scored 55 goals, played in England, Spain, Japan, and is Thailand's most dangerous striker. Teerasil Dangda holds the record of 19 goals in the AFF Cup, although he did not participate in the 2018 AFF Cup, and will pair up with striker Adisak Kraisorn.

Push Theerathon up to play central midfielder

To face the Vietnamese midfield consisting of names like Hung Dung, Hoang Duc, Quang Hai and Van Quyet, coach Mano Polking decided to withdraw left-back Theerathon Bunmathan to play as a central midfielder with Sarach Yooyen. At that time, S. Haiprakhon was replaced as the left-back of the Thai team in place of Theerathon.

Left-back Theerathon Bunmathan plays in central midfield with Sarach Yooyen. Photo: NHK

Theerathon, 32 years old, has played 75 matches for the Thai team, which is famous for its tricks and cunning tricks, which were revealed in the matches against the Vietnamese team. At that time, B.Phala played left wing and Ekanit Panya played right wing. When Supachok Sarachat was absent, the name Ekanit Panya, 23 years old, would be mentioned the most by the press.

Observing the training matches of the Thai team, the magical quadrangle of Theerathon, Sarach, B.Phala, Ekanit Panya is magically transformed. When needed, Sarach Yooyen moves up to play as a midfielder behind the strikers Adisak Kraisorn and Dangda, leaving Theerathon alone to recover the ball and counterattack. At that time, the midfield plays according to the diamond formation that Selecao often applied 30 years ago. The formation will turn into 4-1-2-1-2, characterized by a short-playing style, the success of the match mainly depends on the mobility of the midfield. This tactic requires high concentration in each pass. An inaccurate or inappropriate pass can directly affect the movement and direction of the entire team's attack.

If they want to protect the score in their favor, Theerathon and Sarach Yooyen form a defensive line in front of the two central defenders P. Hemviboon and K. Kaman, a classic 4-4-2 style that is rarely used recently. At this time, the ball from the wing is often turned into the position of Adisak Kraisorn, 1.82m tall, to take advantage of this striker's height.

In the 5-0 victory over Brunei, in which Theerathon assisted 2 goals, it was shown that Coach Mano Polking was right to choose a central midfielder for the "War Elephants" who combines both technique and strength. Surely Coach Mano Polking will have to wait until he meets opponents Indonesia and Malaysia to know whether his experiment is successful or not.