Thailand entered the semi-finals as Group A winners. They won all four matches in the group stage, scoring 18 goals. Although they did not have their strongest squad, the defending champions still showed their superior strength and character.
Suphanat Mueanta was the most prominent face, scoring 3 goals and 4 assists.
The return of Supachok Sarachart and Benjamin Davis to training will also help boost the War Elephants' strength.
This will be a big challenge for the Philippines - a team that reached the semi-finals after a difficult journey. They drew with weaker opponents Myanmar and Laos in the first match, then continued to share points with Vietnam.
A narrow victory over Indonesia sent coach Albert Capellas' team through to the second place in Group B. This was their first appearance in the semi-finals of the Southeast Asian Championship since 2018, so they received a lot of attention from home fans.
The Philippines will play on artificial turf at Rizal Memorial Stadium this time, and that will be a factor that affects Thailand. Despite having home advantage, with their recent performance, it is unlikely that they will be able to bring a surprise to the War Elephants.
Score prediction: Philippines 0-2 Thailand
