Comments on U22 Timor Leste vs U22 Thailand, 7:00 p.m. December 3: War Elephants break the curse

TPO - Football commentary U22 Timor Leste vs U22 Thailand, SEA Games 33 - Team information, expected lineup, performance, head-to-head history. Thailand U23/U22 teams often have a bad start in SEA Games matches. Now is the time for them to change...

Comments before the match U22 Timor Leste vs U22 Thailand

The Thai men’s team has won a total of 16 SEA Games football gold medals, the most in the history of the Games. However, the last time they won a gold medal was 8 years ago, at the 2017 SEA Games in Malaysia. Since then, this young football team has been in a period of crisis of confidence.

Thailand has often fallen bitterly. In 2019, they could not beat Vietnam and were eliminated in the group stage. In 2021, the country's youth team lost to Vietnam in the final with a last-minute goal, and in the recent SEA Games, Thailand was crushed by Indonesia in the most infamous match in the history of the Games.

Today (December 3), Thailand will enter the opening match of the 33rd SEA Games campaign. They will play the first match of Group A, against Timor-Leste. Of course, the expectation of winning is default. Thailand even needs to win big. A big win can help them create a good momentum after the not-so-successful friendly period (winning 1/3 of the matches before the SEA Games).

A victory is also a practical task for the War Elephants to compete for the top spot with U22 Singapore, who are candidates, at least in theory, to compete with them for the top spot in Group A.

Form, head-to-head history U22 Timor Leste vs U22 Thailand

And most practically, a good result can help them break the curse of a slow start at the SEA Games. Although the team with the best record in the history of the Games, in the last 4 editions, Thailand has almost always brought disappointment on the opening day. They have only won once (against Singapore at the 32nd SEA Games), and suffered 2 defeats.

In 2017, the team drew with Indonesia in the opening match. Two years later, Thailand unexpectedly lost 0-2 to Indonesia, a fatal defeat that prevented them from advancing to the group stage. In 2021, the Thai team was defeated 2-1 by Malaysia.

Thailand’s slow start to the tournament has given them plenty of warnings for this time, despite the fact that they are up against a modest Timor Leste. “I believe we have a chance to win the title,” said Madam Pang, president of the Football Association of Thailand. “After eight years without a title, it’s time for us to make a change. However, the team must do our best and not underestimate any opponent.”

Tonight, fans will have the opportunity to see U22 Thailand make that declaration come true, thereby ending the curse of slow starts at the SEA Games.

Expected lineup U22 Timor Leste vs U22 Thailand

U22 Timor Leste: Filonito; Danilo, Rivaldo, Bianco, Cristevão; Pedro, Revelino, Edencio; Kefi, Mario, Gali

U22 Thailand: Chomphat Boonlert; Phattharaphon Saksakit, Phon Ek Maneekorn, Attapol Saengthong; Chanaphat Buaphan, Chaiphon Adton, Sittha Bunla; Yotkorn, Thanakrit Chotmuangpak, Seksan Ratree; Yotkorn Burapha

Score prediction: U22 Timor Leste 0-3 U22 Thailand

Watch SEA Games 33, side by side with the Vietnamese Sports Delegation, most fully onFPT Play, at: http://fptplay.vn

Source: https://tienphong.vn/nhan-dinh-u22-timor-leste-vs-u22-thai-lan-19h00-ngay-312-voi-chien-pha-dop-post1801480.tpo