Thai expert: Even with Pep Guardiola, we still lost to Vietnam U22.
Commentator Adisorn Piungya believes that Thailand U22's defeat in the SEA Games 33 final was not the coach's fault but due to poor preparation, far inferior to that of Vietnam.
Following the bitter defeat of the U22 Thailand team against U22 Vietnam in the SEA Games 33 final, renowned commentator Adisorn "Jackie" Piungya offered a frank assessment, suggesting that the team's problems were systemic rather than blaming the coach individually.
"Even with Pep Guardiola at the helm, Thailand would struggle to beat Vietnam if their preparation remains the same," Jackie declared.
Thailand U22 endured a forgettable final match on home soil. Despite leading by two goals in the first half, the "War Elephants" couldn't withstand the pressure from Vietnam U22 in the second half and ultimately lost in extra time. This result made coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul the target of criticism.
The problem lies in the preparation phase.
According to Jackie's analysis, the core reason for the failure lay not in the tactics on the field but in the inadequate preparation process. He pointed out a series of shortcomings: the training camp was too short, the schedules of club and national team matches clashed, and there was a lack of coordination between the Federation and the clubs.
These factors prevent players from reaching their best physical and mental state when entering an important match.
When comparing the Vietnamese U22 team to their opponents, Jackie acknowledged that they had superior preparation. "Their opponents had more systematic preparation, from training time and personnel stability to the coherence in their playing style," he commented.
To prepare for the 33rd SEA Games and the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, the Vietnam Football Federation agreed to temporarily suspend the V-League. This plan allowed the national team sufficient time to assemble their squad, improve their physical fitness, and refine their tactics. This was a major advantage that helped Coach Kim Sang Sik's team maintain cohesion and a strong physical foundation, ultimately leading to a successful comeback.
Although not entirely supportive of coach Thawatchai's tactical decisions, particularly his adjustments during the match, Jackie emphasized that this was only "the tip of the iceberg." According to him, this defeat serves as a wake-up call regarding systemic shortcomings that Thai football needs to address thoroughly if it wants to compete on equal footing in the region.
