Indonesia - Thailand: 8 p.m. today, 25/7, Hanoi time.

Thailand began Group C with a 4-0 victory over Timor Leste. However, a 0-0 draw with Myanmar in the final match drew criticism from fans. Coach Thawatchai acknowledged the team needs improvement to face host Indonesia in the semi-final.

"We topped the group, but our performance wasn't truly impressive," Thawatchai said at the pre-match press conference on 24/7. "I think the team will return to peak performance and play better against Indonesia."

Coach Thawatchai at the pre-match press conference before Thailand's semi-final against Indonesia in the 2025 AFF U23 Championship, at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Indonesia, on 24/7/2025. *Photo: FAT*

In Group A, Indonesia also started with a resounding 8-0 win against Brunei. But they then only edged past the Philippines 1-0 thanks to an own goal, before drawing 0-0 with Malaysia. The host's attack was criticized for lacking sharpness by Indonesian Football Federation Chairman Erick Thohir.

However, Indonesia has recently outperformed Thailand at the U23 level. They won 3-1 in the semi-finals of the 2023 AFF U23 Championship and 5-2 in the final of the 32nd SEA Games.

"The players must be as ready as possible, both physically and mentally, to face a strong team like Indonesia," Thawatchai said. "They are a quality team and considered our top rival in Southeast Asia."

Thailand U23 training on the evening of 23/7/2025. *Photo: FAT*

Besides the quality of the players, the 1974-born coach is also mindful of the pressure from the opposing fans. The Gelora Bung Karno Stadium welcomed only about 2,700 spectators for Indonesia's match against Brunei, but this gradually increased to 8,400 and then 27,000 in the subsequent two matches. The number of spectators for the semi-final is expected to be even higher.

"Playing in a stadium with a large crowd is very good for young players," Thawatchai said. "If they overcome this, the players' morale will be even stronger. They must show the image of champions."

Hieu Luong