Thailand U23 coach recalls defeat against Vietnam, sets goal for Asian quarter-finals.
Ahead of the 2026 AFC U23 Championship, coach Thawatchai acknowledged that the Vietnamese U23 team had superior physical fitness at the SEA Games 33 and expressed his hope that the current generation of players would go far in Saudi Arabia.
Ahead of the 2026 AFC U23 Asian Championship in Saudi Arabia, Thailand U23 coach Thawatchai Damrong-ongtrakul shared his candid thoughts on his team's goals and recalled the valuable lesson learned from their defeat against Vietnam U23 at the 33rd SEA Games.
Lessons in physical fitness learned from the defeat against Vietnam U23
Looking back at the SEA Games 33 final on home soil, the Thai strategist acknowledged the superiority of their neighboring opponent. He stated that the Vietnamese U23 team had much better physical preparation, which made a crucial difference in the second half.
"It must be admitted that the Vietnamese players were very well prepared, their physical condition was superior to ours. Allowing the opponent to score an early equalizer in the second half meant that the game was completely in their favor," Thawatchai Damrong-ongtrakul analyzed the match.
A test of strength and the goal of reaching the Top 8 in the continent.
Entering the tournament in Saudi Arabia, the Thai U23 team is facing a difficult personnel issue. Because the AFC U23 Asian Championship does not fall under the FIFA Days system, many domestic clubs have refused to release key players to serve in the second half of their national leagues.
Despite having to call up many new faces and players lacking international experience, Thawatchai still aims to reach the quarter-finals (the top 8 teams). He affirmed that the current 23 players are all in good shape and have a strong desire to contribute to the national team.
"I believe this will be the new generation of players for the Thai national team, who have a great chance to qualify for the 2030 World Cup," the "War Elephants" strategist emphasized regarding his long-term vision.
Thailand U23's match schedule in Group D
In the group stage, the Thailand U23 team will face very strong opponents. The specific schedule for the team from the Land of Smiles is as follows:
- January 8th:Facing U23 Australia
- January 11th:Facing U23 Iraq
- January 14th:Facing China U23
