Coach Masatada Ishii has announced the list of 23 players for the Thai national team, preparing for two friendly matches in Hanoi. Among them, the biggest stars of Thai football in recent years such as Chanathip Songkrasin , Teerasil Dangda, Sarach Yooyen and Theerathon Bunmathan are all absent.
Speaking to the Bangkok Post, Chanathip said he was delighted that the Thai team had called up many young players. However, he stressed that the rejuvenation of the team was a bit late.
Chanathip said: "I'm happy to see new faces in the national team, but I think creating a new generation for the team should have happened a long time ago.
At this time, there will be a gap between generations of players, but I also believe that Ekanit Panya, Supachok Sarachat and Suphanat Mueanta will be the future of the Thai national team."
LP Cup will take place in Hanoi from September 5 to 10. Thailand will face Russia and Vietnam respectively. According to Chanathip, the two upcoming opponents of the “War Elephants” are not easy to play against.
He said: "The upcoming tournament will not be easy for the Thai team, because the Vietnamese team always wants to defeat us."
Vietnam vs Thailand is the match that receives the most attention in Southeast Asia. The two teams have always competed strongly in recent years. The last time Thailand played in Hanoi, they drew 2-2 with Vietnam in the first leg of the 2022 AFF Cup final.
Chanathip Songkrasin, born in 1993, has been a prominent star of Thai football for over a decade. He has scored 12 goals in 65 appearances for the national team. This attacking midfielder is one of the players who causes the most trouble for the Vietnamese team every time the two teams meet. He is currently playing for Pathum United in the Thai League.
