SEA Games 33: U22 Thailand declares their determination to win the championship

In the pre-match press conference, the head coach of U22 Thailand emphasized that his team has followed the planned path: finishing top of the group stage, advancing through the semifinals, and now reaching the final stage. Thawatchai stated: “Our next goal is the championship. To win at the SEA Games, we must overcome strong teams, and U22 Vietnam is one of them.”

Regarding the opponent, the U22 Thailand coach praised the progress of Vietnamese football. He shared: “U22 Vietnam has shown significant development. They have a well-organized style of play, a smooth operational system, and high technical quality. I focus more on their team structure than individual players, although they do have notable talents like Nguyễn Đình Bắc.”

On the other hand, the home team’s coach believes U22 Thailand’s greatest strength currently lies in their full squad, well-recovered physical condition, and strong team spirit. This is also their fifth training camp in preparation for the SEA Games, including many matches within the region and Asia.

Coach Thawatchai stressed: “Reaching the final to face U22 Vietnam is the challenge we have been looking forward to. If we want to be the number one team in Southeast Asia, Thailand must surpass Vietnam.”

Sharing the same determination, midfielder Chanaphat Buaphan said U22 Thailand has learned many lessons from matches where their performance was below expectations. He affirmed: “We have adjusted our tactics and are ready for the final. U22 Vietnam is very strong, especially their attack, but we are not afraid. This is Thailand, and we play for the whole nation.”

The men's football final between U22 Thailand and U22 Vietnam will take place at 19:30 on December 18, promising to be a top-level contest where both teams aim for the sole prize: the gold medal.