Thailand U19 coach speaks directly about championship chances after reaching the final

Coach Chakraphan Panpi commended his team's competitive spirit following Thailand U19's 4-0 victory over Cambodia, which earned them a place in the 2026 ASEAN U19 final.

Thailand U19 continues to cement its position as a top contender for the 2026 ASEAN U19 title when they beat Cambodia U19 4-0 in the semifinal. The emphatic win made the Golden Temple side the first to book a spot in the tournament's final, while also extending their remarkable run in Indonesia.

Despite winning by a large margin, coach Chakraphan Panpi still showed particular respect for the opponent. The Thailand U19 manager praised what Cambodia displayed during the match. He said: "We have to admire Cambodia because they prepared the team so well that the kids gave their all from the start. But when they got the first ball, they made everyone look relaxed and played more as a team. Tomorrow we'll mainly focus on physical recovery because if we train there's no time; everyone played with full effort so there's no time to train. We just need to try to maintain our physical condition."

At North Sumatra Stadium, Cambodia U19 started with confidence and took the initiative to attack. However, against a more experienced and better-organized opponent, the Tower Temple side gradually exposed gaps in their defense. Thailand U19 capitalized on those mistakes to score two goals in the first half through Natthakit Phosri and Itthimon Tippanet.

In the second half, the match was completely controlled by the Golden Temple representatives as Cambodia played with only ten men after Noem Ovanda's red card. The numerical advantage allowed Thailand U19 to dominate possession and apply continuous pressure. Itthimon Tippanet completed his double before an own goal by Sean Udom sealed the 4-0 victory for the blue-shirted team.

Speaking about potential opponents in the final, Coach Chakraphan Panpi showed caution. Before knowing that the opponent would be Australia, he remarked: "Both Indonesia and Australia are strong teams. With the way they play and their style, we have studied how they play according to their style. Indonesia will have home strength and support."This indicates that the Thailand U19 coaching staff has prepared thoroughly for every possible scenario.

Furthermore, thetactician also praised his players' fighting spirit. He emphasized: "The key for us to overcome this final is to understand the kids' game. Consider that they performed well to a certain extent, but there are also shortcomings in many areas. But what I admire is their mind and heart. Although we didn't have much time to prepare the team, we are still ready in every match to build confidence and have a healthy game." With a convincing performance and an upbeat spirit, Thailand U19 is determined to aim for the 2026 Southeast Asian championship.