The Thai team has arrived in Vietnam: What is coach Ishii doing at Noi Bai airport?

After landing at Noi Bai International Airport, the Thai team members immediately moved to Viet Tri (Phu Tho province) to settle down, before entering the preparation process for the final match. AFF Cup 2024 first leg ends with the Vietnamese team at 8:00 p.m. on January 2. The team divided into 2 groups to come to Vietnam, the first group of which was the head coach and some players.

As noted by the newspaper reporter Adolescentthe Thai team members did not appear tired after the flight. The members are in a comfortable mood after an important 3-1 victory in the second leg against the Philippines to win tickets to the final. At Noi Bai airport, coach Ishii also spent his own money to buy coffee for the players.

However, the Thai team is going through a journey of training, competing and then moving quickly. After winning in the semi-finals on the evening of December 30, coach Masatada Ishii and his team only had this morning to rest and recover, then immediately left for Vietnam. Before the first leg of the final, Thailand only had one full day to practice tactics and adapt to the weather in Phu Tho.

“Before the 2024 AFF Cup final, Thailand only has 2 days off. We know there will be injuries, players will not be physically fit, but the coaching staff will try to use the remaining players in the team at this time. “, coach Ishii shared.

“For the final against the Vietnamese team, Thailand will carefully calculate each match. As guests, we will try to have good results, thereby creating favorable psychological momentum for the return leg at home. Before the start of AFF Cup 2024, I told all Thai players to win all 8 matches, but now we cannot do it. Therefore, Thailand must win the remaining two matches against Vietnam and become a champion”.

The Thai team won top spot in Group A at the AFF Cup 2024 thanks to four wins against Timor Leste (10-0), Malaysia (1-0), Singapore (4-2) and Cambodia (3-2). In the semi-finals, despite losing 1-2 in the first leg, Mr. Ishii’s students came back with a 3-1 victory in the rematch at Rajamangala.

The Thai team has declined with defeat in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, but the “War Elephants” are still a force at the AFF Cup. In the Southeast Asian playground, Thailand has won 4 times in the last 5 tournaments. Suphanat and his teammates are having a series of 3 consecutive AFF Cups reaching the final. In the last 22 matches at the AFF Cup, Thailand only had to receive only 2 defeats.

The last time the Vietnamese team defeated Thailand at the AFF Cup took place 16 years ago, in the final leg of the 2008 AFF Cup. In the last 6 matches against Thailand in all competitions, the Vietnamese team drew 4 and lost 4. 2, including 5 matches without scoring.

However, coach Kim Sang-sik affirmed that the Vietnamese team is strong enough to win the final to win the throne convincingly. In AFF Cup 2024, Quang Hai and his teammates are the only team with an undefeated record (5 wins, 1 draw). The Vietnamese team also won all 3 matches at Viet Tri’s home field, scoring 9 goals and conceding 1 goal.

Combined with the advantage of resting 1 day more than Thailand, Mr. Kim Sang-sik and his team have a great advantage to win the first leg of the AFF Cup 2024 final.