After the 5-0 victory over Laos in the opening match of Group B of the ASEAN Cup 2026, coach Anthony Hudson praised the young players, especially the U23 team in the Thai national team squad.
I am very impressed with the U23 players as well as the experienced players in the team. The selection of the squad is not based on age but on the potential and readiness of each player," Anthony Hudson shared.
The strategist of the Thai national team said that he had concerns about the physical foundation of the players before the tournament started. However, the performance in the opening match made him believe that the team will improve further in the future.
I believe that the players will be in better and better condition as the tournament takes place," he said.
Assessing the opening match, coach Anthony Hudson was satisfied when the Thai team started with a victory with a squad with many new faces.
I am satisfied with this match because we could start the campaign with a victory, while the team has many new players. Another positive thing is that the players all performed well in the set tactics," he said.
After the match, the Thai coach also thanked the fans who were present in the stands in Vientiane to cheer for the team.
I am very impressed with the cheers of the fans. They have come from many places to accompany and motivate the whole team," he shared.
According to the plan, the Thai team will return home immediately after the match to prepare for the next match. Anthony Hudson said that the coaching staff will prioritize helping the players recover their fitness, and emphasized that the whole team will only focus on each match.
We will return to Thailand immediately and try to help the players recover to the best before the next match. The whole team needs to focus on each match and always try our best," he said.
Regarding the condition of captain Sarach Yooyen, who had to leave the field on a stretcher in the 69th minute, coach Anthony Hudson said that the medical team will continue to check, but the initial signs are quite positive.
We need to assess further, but according to initial assessments, the situation is not too serious. It seems that it was just a minor collision," the strategist of the Thai team said.
