SEA Games 33: Vietnam U22 team hopes for a "historic double" against Thailand.

From winning the ASEAN Cup 2024 to reaching the SEA Games 33 final, coach Kim Sang-sik continues to write an emotional story of rivalry between Vietnamese and Thai football.

Coach Kim Sang Sik and his team were overwhelmed with emotion after securing a place in the SEA Games 33 final. (Photo: Minh Quyet/VNA)

Coach Kim Sang Sik has the opportunity to make history by potentially defeating Thailand for the second time in a year in the most prestigious matches in Southeast Asia.

From winning the ASEAN Cup 2024 to reaching the SEA Games 33 final, the South Korean coach continues to write an emotional story of rivalry between Vietnamese and Thai football.

The ASEAN Cup 2024 championship title, won by coach Kim Sang Sik and his team in early 2025, brought joy and excitement to Vietnamese football fans.

This result provides the perfect springboard for the Vietnamese national team to hopefully conclude the 2025 calendar year with renewed joy and anticipation.

Under the guidance of coach Kim Sang Sik, the Vietnam U22 team continued to show consistency. The team scored regularly, averaging 2 goals per match, and conceded only 1 goal since the beginning of the tournament. This is a record equal to that of host nation Thailand before the final match.

Vietnam U22's biggest advantage lies in its squad depth. The majority of the players are key players in the V-League, accustomed to the pressure of top-level competition, and capable of quickly adapting to tactical demands.

This gives Kim Sang Sik more options for rotation and changing tactics, elements that have proven remarkably effective in difficult times.

Coach Kim Sang Sik has many options for his experienced V-League squad. Meanwhile, the U22 Thailand team enters the final with quite a few changes.

Coach Thawatchai Damrong-Ongtrakul was forced to allow seven key players to return to their clubs because the SEA Games did not fall within FIFA Days, while the Thai League was still in progress.

At one point, the U22 Thailand team only had 14 players training, not enough to organize tactical practice sessions. However, U22 Thailand still had the advantage of playing at home and the enthusiastic support of the fans. But the fact that they hadn't won the SEA Games since 2017 put immense pressure on the young players.

The Rajamangala Stadium, once a "cauldron of fire," is no longer unfamiliar territory for coach Kim Sang Sik. He previously won the ASEAN Cup 2024 there with the Vietnamese national team, and now stands before the opportunity to complete a double within a year, affirming the capabilities and influence of the South Korean coach on Vietnamese football.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/sea-games-33-u22-viet-nam-cho-cu-dup-lich-su-truoc-thai-lan-20251217143531142.htm