Predictions for Vietnam vs. Thailand at 8:00 PM on January 2, 2025 (First Leg of the 2024 AFF Cup Final): A Clash of Southeast Asian Football Giants!
The first leg of the final will take place at 8:00 PM on January 2, 2025, with the Vietnam national team hosting Thailand at Việt Trì Stadium (Phú Thọ Province, Việt Nam). The second leg will kick off at 8:00 PM on January 5, 2025, as coach Kim Sang-sik and his players travel to Rajamangala Stadium (Thailand). The showdown between Vietnam and Thailand is seen as a dream final in this regional tournament. These two teams share a long-standing rivalry and have always been key contenders in Southeast Asia.
A Clash of Southeast Asian Football Giants!
By reaching the final, Thailand and Vietnam have proven themselves as the most deserving rivals. In terms of FIFA rankings, these are the two highest-ranked teams in the region over the past five years. They also ended 2024 occupying the top positions in Southeast Asia, respectively.
In terms of squad strength, while Malaysia and Indonesia faced significant absences among their key players, Thailand and Vietnam brought their strongest lineups to the 2024 ASEAN Cup. Thailand was missing only a few names like Chanathip, Kritsada, or Supachai, while Vietnam fielded an almost fully optimized squad.
When it comes to historical achievements, Vietnam and Thailand form the most frequent matchup in the finals over the past two decades. Since 2004, when the tournament adopted the home-and-away format for the knockout stages, Thailand and Vietnam have faced each other in the finals three times — in 2008, 2022, and 2024.
With all the evidence above, it can be said that the Vietnam vs. Thailand final is truly a Southeast Asian derby that every football fan has been eagerly anticipating.
Injury Updates for Both Teams
After enduring 120 intense minutes on home turf, the Thai national team secured their spot in the 2024 ASEAN Cup final. However, the “War Elephants” cannot fully celebrate as Weerathep had to leave the field on a stretcher. Additionally, Patrik Gustavsson showed signs of limping after exiting the game earlier.
Coach Masatada Ishii did not hide his concerns about his team’s condition. He stated, “The Thai national team has only two days to prepare for the final, not to mention a few players are dealing with injuries. This is an unfortunate situation for Thailand.”
Meanwhile, several Vietnamese players have faced fitness issues and injuries during the 2024 ASEAN Cup campaign. In the second leg of the semifinal against Singapore at Việt Trì Stadium, Văn Thanh, Xuân Mạnh, and Tấn Tài all left the field due to injuries. However, Văn Thanh and Xuân Mạnh were diagnosed with only minor muscle strains and mild discomfort.
Hồ Tấn Tài, on the other hand, suffered a bruise to the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. While surgery is not required, he is expected to undergo 6-8 weeks of recovery, ruling him out of both legs of the upcoming final.
Previously, forward Nguyễn Văn Toàn also had to withdraw early from the tournament after sustaining a medial collateral ligament bruise in his right knee during the final group-stage match against Myanmar. He will need at least four weeks to recover.
During training sessions, players like Hai Long, Quang Hải, and Bùi Hoàng Việt Anh occasionally experienced minor discomfort and had to train separately. However, they have since made timely recoveries and are back in full training without significant issues.
Expected Lineups:
- Vietnam: Nguyễn Filip, Văn Thanh, Tiến Dũng, Việt Anh, Thành Chung, Văn Vĩ, Hoàng Đức, Quang Hải, Ngọc Tân, Tuấn Hải, Xuân Sơn.
- Thailand: Patiwat, Khamdee, Auksornsri, Promsupa, Pumwisat, Pomphan, Chamratsamee, Bureerat, Supachok, Suphanat, Patrik.
Predicted Score: 2-1