Defender Chalermsak Aukkee believes that with Thailand's current impressive form, Vietnam is the team to fear in the 2024 AFF Cup final.
How did the Thai team get into the final?
The Vietnamese team will face Thailand in the final of the 2024 AFF Cup. While coach Kim Sang-sik and his team defeated Singapore after 2 matches with a total score of 5-1, Thailand also defeated the Philippines with a total score of 4-3 to have a third consecutive appearance in the championship match of the Southeast Asian playground.
Although the Vietnamese team is performing well with a 6-match unbeaten streak, Thai defender Chalermsak Aukkee still believes that Mr. Kim's team is the one to fear in the AFF Cup final.
Thai opponent unexpectedly mentioned Xuan Son
PHOTO: NGOC LINH
"Thailand's form is getting better and better, and we are not afraid of meeting the Vietnamese team in Bangkok. You should ask if the Vietnamese team is afraid of Thailand?", Chalermsak answered a Thai reporter's question about whether the "War Elephants" are afraid of their opponents.
Chalermsak also confirmed that he did not know who Nguyen Xuan Son was, and said that the striker of the Vietnamese team could not compare to the center back Jonathan Khemdee of Thailand. "Who is Xuan Son? Is he very strong? Let's wait and see how Xuan Son competes with Khemdee. I'm sure Khemdee is much stronger than Xuan Son," Chalermsak affirmed.
The Thai team had a difficult time in the second leg of the semi-final against the Philippines. After leading 2-0, coach Masatada Ishii's team let their opponents score a goal to reduce the score to 1-2. In the final minutes, the Philippines put pressure on the Thai goal and once hit the Thai goalpost. Luckily, Thailand escaped a goal and took the match into extra time, before Suphanat Muenta scored in the 116th minute to send the "War Elephants" straight to the final.
According to Chalermsak, the victory helped Thailand relieve pressure. "I feel like all the burden has been lifted off my shoulders," he affirmed. Coach Masatada Ishii also emphasized that Thailand had a victory to open the knot to continue the journey at the AFF Cup 2024.
Thailand is unbeaten in the last 6 matches against Vietnam (2 wins, 4 draws). The last time the "War Elephants" lost to Vietnam in the AFF Cup was 16 years ago, in the first leg of the 2008 AFF Cup final at Rajamangala Stadium (the Vietnamese team won 2-1 thanks to goals from Vu Phong and Cong Vinh).
Thanhnien.vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sao-thai-lan-che-doi-tuyen-viet-nam-va-xuan-son-hoi-xem-ho-so-chung-toi-khong-185241231113726633.htm
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