* Thailand – Vietnam: 7:30 PM Thursday, 18/12, on VnExpress.

Thailand's U22 football squad faces Vietnam in the SEA Games 33 men's final today, Thursday, 18/12. Ahead of the crucial match, national team head coach Anthony Hudson has urged his young players to demonstrate unwavering spirit and determination, emphasizing the need to "fight to the last breath" for victory.

Hudson visited the STB Academy in Bangkok yesterday afternoon to observe the U22 squad's training session and offer encouragement. After providing technical feedback, the English coach spent about four minutes boosting the players' morale. He recounted a past final where his team, despite being the underdog, emerged victorious. "The most important lesson I learned is that physical fitness and tactics are only part of it; the rest lies within yourselves," Hudson stated.

Head coach Anthony Hudson (second from right) speaks with Thai midfielder Iklas Sanron before a training session at the STB Academy football field in Bangkok on the afternoon of 17/12, one day before the SEA Games 33 final. Photo: Hieu Luong

Recalling how his former teammates collapsed on the field, exhausted yet unable to celebrate due to giving their all, Hudson stressed the immense effort required. "Winning this final against Vietnam demands much more than you might imagine," he explained. "Fight to the last breath when you leave the field, because victory is the most important thing in a final." Midfielder Kakana Khamyok echoed Hudson's sentiment, acknowledging Vietnam's strength but asserting Thailand's superiority. "This match is simple. Whoever runs more and makes fewer mistakes will win," Kakana said. "We are 100% ready and feel no pressure. This is the last tournament for some players on the team. We must give our utmost to make our dream a reality."

How dangerous Thailand is ahead of the SEA Games 33 final.

Thailand holds the most gold medals in SEA Games men's football with 16 titles, significantly more than second-placed Malaysia's 10. However, their last victory was in 2017, when they defeated host Malaysia. Since then, the "Land of Smiles" representatives were eliminated from the group stage in the 2019 tournament and lost two finals: 0-1 to Vietnam in 2022 and 2-5 (after extra time) to Indonesia in 2023.

Tonight's match presents an opportunity for Thailand to end their gold medal drought on home soil. Additionally, they seek revenge for their 2-3 loss to Vietnam in the second leg of the 2024 ASEAN Cup final, also held at Rajamangala Stadium.

According to Mano Polking, former head coach of Thailand and current coach of Cong an Ha Noi, "The gap between the two footballing nations is very small, a trend that has continued for many years. Today's final will likely be decided by minor details; a single moment of brilliance could determine the outcome." The 52,000-seat stadium is expected to be full, with approximately 3,000 Vietnamese supporters. Thai fan groups are also planning to create an electrifying atmosphere for their team throughout the match.

Hieu Luong