After losing 1-2 to Vietnam in the first leg of the 2024 ASEAN Cup final, the Thai team returned home on the evening of January 3 to prepare for the second leg.
Notably, midfielder Akarapong of the Golden Temple team cannot move by himself. He is in a wheelchair and needs the support of another teammate to push him around.
In a quick exchange with reporters, the player said: "I am injured and will have to rest for a few weeks or more."
This means that Akarapong will be absent from the second leg of the 2024 ASEAN Cup final. This forces coach Ishii Masatada to look for a suitable replacement, because this position requires a player with good physical strength and agility.
Previously, Akarapong was injured in the first half of the first leg of the final match at Viet Tri Stadium on the evening of January 2. He lost his footing while trying to block Nguyen Xuan Son's shot.
Accordingly, the Thai midfielder had a serious problem with his ankle, could not continue playing and was forced to leave the field on a stretcher. After the match, Akarapong could not walk and his condition became worse.
In addition to this midfielder, other players of the "War Elephants" are also being affected physically. The tight schedule, little rest and constant travel have made Suphanat and his teammates somewhat exhausted.
On the contrary, on the Vietnamese team side, coach Kim Sang-sik will definitely not have the services of Van Toan and Tan Tai due to ligament injuries in the previous group stage and semi-final matches.
In return, the Vietnamese team's lineup is still guaranteed after the first leg of the final with Xuan Son, Quang Hai, Hoang Duc, Tien Dung, Xuan Manh, Ngoc Tan, Thanh Chung...
The second leg final between Thailand and Vietnam will take place at 8:00 p.m. on January 5 at Rajamangala Stadium.
