TEAM C AMPUCHIA SHOCKED
Despite their decline over the past 6 years since the runner-up position in the 2018 AFF Cup, the Malaysian team is still rated higher than their opponent Cambodia in the opening match of the 2024 AFF Cup which took place yesterday, December 8. The reason is that the Cambodian team also fell into crisis at the end of the time of coach Felix Dalmas, when they were successively eliminated from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers (lost to Pakistan) and the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers (lost to Sri Lanka). Poor performance has made the team nicknamed "Angkor Warriors" not trusted.
Thailand team won overwhelmingly against Timor Leste
However, the presence of 6 naturalized players, including African striker Abdel Kader Coulibaly, has helped Cambodia improve. In the match against Malaysia at the Olympic Stadium, Cambodia played on par with Malaysia, even pressuring Malaysia at times. Coach Koji Gyotoku's players deployed coherent short passes, with many diverse attacking solutions thanks to a forward line that knew how to press, sweep and run hard.
Despite losing 0-1 in the first half, Cambodia still maintained a stable playing tempo and confidently controlled the game. The 8 minutes from Coulibaly's equalizer to Sa Ty's close-range shot (from minute 52 to 60) were a time when Cambodian fans could soar and dream, as coach Gyotoku's team played extremely well, almost "sweeping away" Malaysia with enthusiasm and desire to win.
The reality in recent AFF Cups is that despite defeats, the Cambodian team still maintains the philosophy of playing with control and passing the ball confidently and technically. Coach Gyotoku's students do not retreat to defend when facing Indonesia, Thailand or Malaysia, but are ready to fight fairly. Persistence with the tactics helps Cambodia reap "sweet fruit". When there are naturalized players in the right positions, the Cambodian team has become a different collective.
Cambodia’s transformation, even in just one match, also shows the interesting side of Southeast Asian football. Teams are all striving to improve with their own philosophies and approaches, whether it is Cambodia, Myanmar or Laos, which are teams that are used to… being on the back foot in the group stage. Therefore, standing still means falling behind. Cambodia dropped the victory when Malaysia equalized in the second half, but with what they have shown, Mr. Gyotoku’s team will make the race in Group A worth watching.
THE ABSOLUTE POWER OF THAILAND
Unlike Malaysia, the Thai team did not let any surprises appear in the opening match. In the match between the most traditional team of the AFF Cup and the weakest team (who only got a ticket to participate after passing the play-off round) at Hang Day Stadium, Thailand poured goals into Timor Leste's net.
Coach Masatada Ishii has not yet fielded his strongest squad, but with stars like Ben Davies, Suphanat Muenta, Patrik Gustavsson... Thailand still completely dominated the match and easily scored 10 goals against Timor Leste, especially with 4 goals scored in just 28 minutes of the first half (from minute 4 to minute 32). Suphanat, Davies and Seksan Ratree or Gustavsson all opened fire, not to mention new faces like Nicolas Mickelson, Akarapong Pumwisat or Anan Yodsangwal all brought satisfaction to Mr. Ishii when playing enthusiastically and following the tactics, contributing to helping Thailand create a "hurricane" to blow away the Timor Leste team at Hang Day Stadium.
The ability to pass the ball smoothly, attack in a variety of ways and skillfully with the opening passes combined with the central attack has shown some of Thailand's strength. Without the brightest stars, the "war elephants" still play well. At the same time, with tall naturalized players, typically Gustavsson, Thailand not only plays short, small like before, but can also play long, high when needed. Being equipped with many playing styles helps Thailand to decode the types of opponents, in the context of Indonesia being different from the past, and the Vietnamese team is also in the transition period of generation and philosophy.
In the second round on December 11, Thailand will have a rest. Malaysia will return to Bukit Jalil to welcome Timor Leste, while Singapore will face Cambodia.
Asean Mitsubishi Electric Cup 2024 is broadcast live and in full on FPT Play, at: http://fptplay.vn
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dkvd-thai-lan-tao-con-cuong-phong-o-san-hang-day-campuchia-gay-soc-18524120822522239.htm
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