Bangkok: Masatada Ishii, the head coach of the Thai national men’s football team, led the War Elephants back to Thailand after a successful stint in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifying round. The team returned triumphant after a decisive 6-1 victory against Chinese Taipei, which took place in the Group D match 4 on October 15, 2025, at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
According to Thai News Agency, the win elevated the Thai national team to second place in their group, equaling Turkmenistan’s 9 points but trailing in goal difference. Coach Ishii expressed satisfaction with the team’s performance, highlighting the importance of refining their strategies. He stated, “For the team’s preparations, we’ll have to observe the field and evaluate the performance of each player, especially the players in the squad. In these two games, we met our goals, and were almost perfect. However, we still need to improve the details of the game to ensure we’re more prepared.”
Ishii shared his determination to advance to the finals of the Asian Cup, acknowledging the support from fans both in Thailand and abroad. “Having Japanese fans cheering me on, I feel like we’ve achieved our goal of making them happy,” he noted, praising the robust Thai fan presence in Chinese Taipei.
The coach also analyzed the team’s tactics, pointing out that familiarity with the opponent allowed for a more effective offensive strategy. “Chinese Taipei also wanted to beat us, so they opened up more and created more space behind us, which allowed us to score more goals,” he explained.
Santiphap Channgorm, a fullback for Chonburi FC, expressed his happiness in contributing to the team’s success. “I’m delighted to have helped the team score more goals, but more importantly, the team got three points,” he said, emphasizing the collective achievement over individual performance. Channgorm also reflected on discussions with Coach Ishii about his positioning upon returning to his club, demonstrating readiness and flexibility for future matches.
The Thai national team’s journey continues with pressure mounting as they remain second in the group. Channgorm shared, “The pressure is there in every match, and in the group, we’re still second. Personally, I’m under pressure, but I have to focus on the remaining games.”