Thai media predicts Vietnam team will 'waste time and commit many fouls'

The Vietnamese team will visit Thailand's Rajamangala Stadium for the second leg of the 2024 AFF Cup final at 8:00 p.m. on January 5. Ahead of the match, the newspaperSiam Sportof Thailand has made an assessment. The Thai newspaper believes that the "War Elephants" will win in the official 90 minutes.

"The Vietnamese team is very excited and confident, especially striker Nguyen Xuan Son, who scored two goals in the first leg of the 2024 AFF Cup final," wrote Siamsport.

The Thai newspaper commented: "The upcoming match will be intense and both teams will give their all. However, the starting lineup will be slightly different from the first leg final. Because the Thai team has no choice but to win in regulation time. Therefore, the Thai team will play an attacking game. Thailand will play better than the first leg final and can win, despite having to face fouls and time-wasting from Vietnam. In the end, in 90 minutes, the Thai team will definitely decide the result."

Meanwhile, the newspaperThairathThailand's referee gave statistics on the "War Elephants" penalty kick results and said that Masatada Ishii has nothing to worry about if the second leg of the final is decided in a penalty shootout.

"In the history of the AFF Cup, in the 14 times the final was held, the champion was only decided by a penalty shootout in 2002 (then called the Tiger Cup). In that year's tournament, Indonesia and Singapore were co-hosts. The final was held at Gelora Bung Karno. In this match, Thailand took a 2-0 lead thanks to Chukiat Nooslung in the 26th minute and Kiatisuk Senamuang in the 38th minute, before Indonesia equalized thanks to goals from Yaris Riyadi in the 46th minute and Gendat Doni Kristianwan in the 79th minute. There were still no goals in extra time, the score was still 2-2, and in the end, a penalty shootout was required to determine the winner," the Thai newspaper continued.

"In the end, the Thai team won 4-2 in the penalty shootout. Indonesia missed two penalties. On the Thai side, Zico Kiatisuk Senamuang was the first to kick and missed. Thailand's next kicks were all successful from Sakda Chimdee, Thetsak Chaiman, Manit Noiwet and finally Dusit Chalermsan's stylish and beautiful panenka," the newspaper said.Thairathwrite.