Thailand have already booked their place in the final of the inaugural Fifa Asean Cup, but Anthony Hudson’s side will still be chasing a flawless Group B campaign when they face the Philippines at the Si Jalak Harupat Stadium in Bandung on Friday.
The War Elephants have taken six points from two matches, thrashing Pakistan 4-0 before seeing off Vietnam 2-0, and they now wait to discover whether Malaysia, Indonesia or Singapore will top Group A to provide the opposition in the final.
Hudson used Thursday’s session to ease the strain on tired legs, with the squad completing an hour of recovery work following the win over Vietnam. The head coach is expected to keep one eye on the final as he weighs his options for the game with the Azkals.
Few players have more reason to feel upbeat than Sarach Yooyen. The BG Pathum United midfielder opened the scoring against Vietnam with a superb long-range strike, and he admitted the goal carried special meaning for the squad and the country’s supporters.
“I am very happy to have scored against Vietnam,” said Sarach. “This goal means a lot to me, the team and the Thai fans. In the last two Asean Championship finals, we could not beat them. This time we focused on winning and everyone delivered.”
He was quick to credit the team’s defensive discipline, which delivered a clean sheet. “The style of play may have been defensive, but that happens in football,” he said. “What we must praise is the discipline in defence that kept the clean sheet.”
Sarach also spoke warmly of the tournament itself, which is being staged in Indonesia, a country with a passionate football following.
Although the experience was in many ways like any other competition, he said, Fifa’s organisation had set a high standard and the atmosphere created by the home fans had made the event especially appealing for the players.
The competition, he added, had been more intense than previous editions because every nation had sent its strongest squad. “This is a good tournament and it gives players more chances to play international football,” he said.
Thailand’s failure to lift the Asean Championship still stings, and Sarach was clear about the ambition this time.
“We may have missed out in the Asean Championship, but in this tournament we will try to bring the trophy back to the country,” he said. “We need the encouragement of the Thai fans. We don’t yet know who we will face in the final, but I think many supporters will come and the atmosphere will be great. We will try to do our best.”
Elsewhere in Group B, Vietnam take on Pakistan at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium in Jakarta, also at 4pm.