AFF Cup 2024 first leg final between Vietnam - Thailand: Don't underestimate the "war elephants"
Coach Kim Sang-sik and his team are being rated by experts as having a higher chance of winning the first leg final match against Thailand, which will take place on the evening of January 2 at Viet Tri Stadium (Phu Tho).
Enter the competition withVietnam team, the Thai team suffered a "double loss". Besides having to play away - Viet Tri Stadium, Supachok Sarachat and his teammates also had 1 day less rest than the Vietnamese team. Furthermore, coach Masatada Ishii's students had just gone through a physical "torture" with the Philippines team in the second leg of the semi-final.
According to information from the Thai press, two important pillars of the "war elephants", Suphanat Mueanta and Teerasak Poeiphimai, are having health problems and are even at risk of missing the first leg of the final. It should be noted that up to now, the above striker duo has contributed 7 goals for the Thai team at the ASEAN Cup 2024.
Obviously, coach Masatada Ishii and his team are at a disadvantage before the match with the Vietnamese team, taking place on the evening of January 2. However, it would be a big mistake to underestimate the strength of the Thai team. Remember, the head-to-head record between the two teams in the past at the ASEAN Cup is leaning towards the team from the "Land of the Golden Pagoda".
Statistics show that after 13 meetings, the Thai team has won 7 times, while the Vietnamese team has only done so twice. The most recent home victory of the "golden star warriors" against the "war elephants" took place more than 26 years ago. Specifically, in the semi-finals of the ASEAN Cup 1998, the Vietnamese team defeated the Thai team with a score of 3 - 0.
Especially under the time Coach Kim Sang-sik, the Vietnamese team also had to accept defeat against the team led by coach Masatada Ishii. In the friendly match held at My Dinh National Stadium, on September 10, 2024, Nguyen Hoang Duc and his teammates were defeated by the Thai team with a score of 2 - 1. Perhaps, coach Kim Sang-sik still has not forgotten this defeat?
In short, defeating the Thai team is an extremely difficult task for the Vietnamese team in all circumstances. And the first leg of the final match at the ASEAN Cup 2024 will not be an exception. Hopefully, coach Kim Sang-sik and his team will play excellently to bring joy to the home fans./.
