AFF Cup 2024 semi-finals schedule: As guests of the Philippines, Thailand is worried about one thing…

The encounter between the Philippines and Thailand teams is the second semi-final of the AFF Cup 2024. The first leg match will take place at 8:00 p.m. on December 27 at Rizal Memorial Stadium in the Philippines. Meanwhile, the return match takes place at 8:30 p.m. December at Rajamangala Stadium (Thailand). As usual, the AFF Cup 2024 semi-finals will be reported live on VTV2 channel, VTV Can Tho as well as VTVgo application, VTV Times. In addition, audiences can also watch on FPT Play platforms.

In terms of confrontation history, the Thai team is proving superior to the Philippines. Since 2014, the two teams have clashed a total of 6 times in the AFF Cup arena and Thailand has an undefeated record (4 wins, 2 draws). Notably, in these 6 matches, the Philippine team has never been able to score more than 1 goal against Thailand. In the most recent meeting (December 26, 2022), Thailand also defeated the Philippines with a strong score of 4-0.

In addition, in the AFF Cup 2024, the Thai team is also demonstrating convincing football style. Coach Masatada Ishii’s team did not have the strongest squad but still easily won all 4 group stage matches, proudly entering the semi-finals at the top of Group A. Thailand also scored 18 goals (an average of 4.5 goals). /match), only conceding 4 times to have a clear advantage in goal difference compared to all other teams in the tournament. Expected stars such as Suphanat Mueanta, Patrik Gustavsson, and Teerasak Poeiphimai all shined brightly, scoring 3 goals in the group stage.

The Thai team must get used to the artificial field soon

Unlike Thailand’s superior strength, the Philippines has a more arduous group stage journey. Coach Albert Capellas’ team has 6 points after 4 matches, ranked 2nd in Group B behind the Vietnam team (10 points). In addition to creating a surprise, defeating Indonesia 1-0 away from home to “snatch” the ticket to the semi-finals from their opponents, the Philippines has not left much of an impression.

In the 5th time appearing in the semi-finals (4 previous times in 2010, 2012, 2014 and 2018), the only fulcrum helping the Philippines confidently make it difficult for Thailand is Rizal Memorial Stadium. This is an artificial turf field and makes many opponents struggle as guests. In the group stage, the Vietnamese team also faced many difficulties to achieve a 1-1 draw. Even after the match, many players had to leave the field with scratches.

Thai media assessed that coach Masatada Ishii seemed to realize this difficulty and he quickly adjusted his training plan. After the group stage, Thailand began holding practice sessions at the artificial turf field of the Bangkok Thonburi Football Development Center. This is considered a reasonable preparation, minimizing risks for Thai players when playing as guests of the Philippines.

“Coach Masatada Ishii had to urgently change the exercises to help Thai players quickly get used to artificial turf. Don’t forget… bring red medicine when competing at Rizal Memorial. The Vietnamese team had to leave with heavy scratches and certainly big challenges are also waiting for Thailand in the first leg of the semi-finals,” the newspaper said. Thai Raith comment.