Thai U23 coach expresses one thing after victory over Vietnam

Thai U23 coach Thawatchai praises the win against Vietnam U23, commends his players for maintaining focus, and reveals the reason for rotating 8 positions to conserve energy for the match against North Korea.

After the 1-0 victory over Vietnam U23 at the CFA Team China 2026 friendly tournament, Thai U23 head coach Thawatchai praised his players extensively and also acknowledged the strength of their Southeast Asian opponent.

Speaking after the match, the Thai strategist considered this a high-quality test for his team. “This was a very good match as we faced a strong opponent from Southeast Asia like Vietnam. I must praise the players for controlling their emotions excellently and maintaining focus throughout the game, despite facing significant pressure from the opponent.”, Coach Thawatchai shared.

In this match, Thai U23 started impressively and scored the decisive goal in the 25th minute through Thanakrit Chotimueangpak's strike. The early goal allowed the Golden Temple representatives to operate their gameplay more proactively and maintain solidity against the pressure created by Vietnam U23 in the remainder of the match.

One notable point highlighted by the Thai U23 coach was his significant changes to the starting lineup compared to the match against China U23. “In this match, we changed up to 8 positions out of the 11 starters from the China match. The purpose was to preserve the players' physical condition and prevent injuries given the continuous match schedule.”, he said.

Despite many personnel changes, Thai U23 demonstrated impressive squad depth. According to Coach Thawatchai, the players given opportunities this time performed their professional capabilities very well. “The players who entered the field all showed potential and the ability to meet tactical requirements. This is very positive for the team.”, this coach emphasized.

Looking ahead to the final match, Thai U23 coach stated the immediate goal is to continue assessing the team's fitness and readiness to prepare for the encounter with North Korea U23, a crucial match in the race for the CFA Team China 2026 friendly tournament championship.

The victory over Vietnam U23 helps Thai U23 temporarily rise to top of the table with 4 points after 2 matches, opening a significant opportunity for Coach Thawatchai and his team to compete for the overall top position.