Pathum Thani: Masatada Ishii hopes to use today’s friendly match against India as a preparation for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers against Turkmenistan.
According to Thai News Agency, the “War Elephants”, the senior Thai national team, under the supervision of Masatada Ishii, the Japanese head coach, conducted their final training session at BG Training Center 3, Pathum Thani Province. This session was in anticipation of the friendly football match against the Indian national team later today at 7:30 p.m.
Led by ‘Captain Jay’ Chanathip Songkrasin, the team featured key players such as Charoensak Wongkorn and Ekanit Panya, both forwards active in the J-League, along with Elias Dolah, Benjamin Davis, and Supachai Jaided. The training session, which lasted for an hour, concentrated on both offensive and defensive tactics, including set pieces.
Masatada Ishii, addressing a press conference before the match, emphasized that the game against India serves as preparation for the upcoming clash with Turkmenistan. He acknowledged the criticism regarding the introduction of new players and expressed his long-term vision of rebuilding the team for sustained success.
Pitthawat Sukjitthammakul shared his excitement about returning to the national team, noting the positive team atmosphere, with Chanathip Songkrasin playing a crucial role in fostering team unity.
The Thai national team is set for two significant FIFA Day matches. The first, a friendly against India at Thammasat Stadium, is scheduled for today at 7:30 p.m. The second is the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against Turkmenistan, set to take place on June 10 at 10:00 p.m.
Meanwhile, the Thai national football team under 23 years old, coached by Takayuki Nishigaya, concluded their final training session before a friendly match against Hong Kong today at 4:00 p.m. at Thammasat Stadium. The session, led by players such as Yotsakorn Burapha from Chonburi FC, Seksan Ratri from Buriram United, and Erawan Garnier from Olympique Lyonnais, focused on honing offensive and defensive strategies.
Following this game, the Thai national team U-23 will face off against the UAE in another warm-up match on June 10 at 6:00 p.m. at Thammasat Stadium.