Thai newspapers are extremely worried when mentioning Xuan Son and Hoang Duc, but still...

According to Thairath Sport, the Thai team will field their best squad in hopes of overturning the 1-2 loss to Vietnam in the second leg of the 2024 AFF Cup final on the evening of January 5.

Thailand's midfield fluctuates

"The Thai team has two injured players who cannot participate in the match: midfielder Akarapong Pumwisat (ankle) and striker Teerasak Poeiphimai (hamstring, out for at least 2 months). The rest, no one has been booked. Players who did not play in the first leg, such as center-back Jonathan Khemdee, are in good shape. Coach Masatada Ishii will have enough material to field his best lineup to face the Vietnamese team," said Thairath Sport.

Nguyen Xuan Son is a player of the Thai national team that deserves special attention.

Photo: Ngoc Linh

According to Thairath Sport , the Thai team is expected to play with a 4-2-3-1 formation based on observations from the first leg of the final and just one training session before the second leg on January 4. The newspaper also noted that the Thai team's physical condition may be affected because it took nearly a day to return home after the first leg, while the visiting Vietnam team arrived early on the morning of January 3.

Accordingly, if there are no changes or other bold intentions from coach Masatada Ishii, the Thai team will start with goalkeeper Patiwat Khammai, who made 7 spectacular saves in the first leg. In defense, Jonatharn Khemdee will return to play as a central defender with Pansa Hemwiboon, while the scorer who gave the Thai team hope in the first leg, Chalermsak Aukkee, will be on the bench.

Center back Chalermsak Aukkee made many mistakes in defense, failing to command his teammates under pressure from the Vietnamese team in the first leg. Although he narrowed the score to 1-2 in the 83rd minute with a beautiful header, the 30-year-old center back was heavily criticized by the Thai press for being the cause of the 2 goals conceded when letting the number 1 striker of the Vietnamese team, Nguyen Xuan Son, who scored 2 goals in the first leg of the final.

Chalermsak Aukkee (5) had a very difficult match against the Vietnamese players.

Photo: Minh Hoang

On the two flanks, Thairath Sport predicts that coach Masatada Ishii will use defenders Suphanan Burirat and Nicholas Mickelson as in the first leg because there are not many better options. In particular, Nicholas Mickelson often makes mistakes due to slow movements, which can help Vietnamese players exploit to attack.

In midfield, Peeradon Chamratsamee (captain) is likely to return to the starting lineup after only sitting on the bench in the first leg. He will play alongside Weerathep Pomphan, firmly guarding the midfield area, where the Thai team was under great pressure in the first leg against Vietnamese midfielders such as Doan Ngoc Tan and Nguyen Hoang Duc.

This change is partly due to midfielder Akarapong Pumwisat being unable to play due to an ankle injury after blocking Nguyen Xuan Son's powerful shot in the first leg.

Up front, the trio of Suphanat Mueanta, Ben Davis and Supachok Sarachat will start, while Ekanit Panya will be on the bench. Striker Patrik Gustavsson will be the highest player and will be the one to create scoring opportunities for the Thai team.

Not only Nguyen Xuan Son, the Vietnamese team also has Quang Hai and Tien Linh.

According to Thairath Sport , the Vietnamese team is forming the best framework with goalkeeper Nguyen Dinh Trieu, the defense has new personnel but plays very solidly and stably such as defenders Nguyen Thanh Chung and Pham Xuan Manh.

In midfield, player Nguyen Hoang Duc is quiet, but the more he plays, the better he gets, ready to explode at any moment. This newspaper also notes that midfielder Nguyen Quang Hai and striker Nguyen Tien Linh are experienced players, the type of players who can change the game in an instant.

"Of course, we cannot fail to mention the naturalized striker of the Vietnamese team, Nguyen Xuan Son, who has tormented the defense of the Thai team, currently has 7 goals, 2 assists after only 4 matches for his second home team. If we can say who is the most dangerous player and can threaten the ambition of winning the AFF Cup 2024 of the Thai team, it must be Nguyen Xuan Son," Thairath Sport expressed.

Nguyen Hoang Duc (right)

Photo: Ngoc Linh

However, Thairath Sport newspaper hopes that the Thai team at home will take advantage and determination to change the situation, will win with a score of 2-0, enough to be crowned champion. Meanwhile, Siamsport newspaper predicts that the Thai team will win 3-1, on the Vietnamese side, Nguyen Xuan Son will score to reduce the score.

The second leg of the 2024 AFF Cup final between Thailand and Vietnam will take place at 8 p.m. on January 5 at Rajamangala Stadium and all tickets have been sold out. In the first leg, Vietnam won 2-1. If they win, Thailand will win the AFF Cup for the 8th time and the 3rd time in a row. Meanwhile, if Vietnam wins, it will be their 3rd time crowned after 2 times in 2008 and 2018.

Thanhnien.vn

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/bao-thai-lan-au-lo-tot-do-khi-nhac-den-xuan-son-va-hoang-duc-nhung-van-185250105092832563.htm