Thai media, fans criticize national team after 0-8 defeat against Georgia

The match with Georgia is the first friendly of Thailand in the team's week-long training trip in Europe. Georgia are currently 79th on FIFA rankings and are considered a below-average team in Europe. Thailand rank 112th on FIFA and are the reigning champion of Southeast Asia. However, the difference in level between the two teams was clear when Georgia easily scored eight goals past Thailand after 90 minutes.

"I felt embarrassed watching this match. In the first half, Thailand already conceded six goals," reporter Buranit Rattanawichian of Thai newspaper Siam Sport wrote on Thursday. "This is a humiliating result."

Georgia were not dominant in possession, with 52%, but the quality of their passes and the number of opportunities created made the difference. The European team had 34 shots, with 22 on target, while Thailand only had five shots and one on target.

Striker Georges Mikautadze left the biggest mark in Georgia's victory when he scored four goals. The remaining goals were scored by Zuriko Davitashvili (who had a double), Luka Lochoshvili and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

Thailand head coach Mano Polking said: "We did not expect a result like this. Many of our players in this match were very young and some even had their first time playing for the national team. I don’t blame the players because they tried their best. We have to prepare well for the next match against Estonia."

On the Facebook page of the Football Federation of Thailand (FAT), many Thai fans slammed the national team for this defeat. Most of them expressed doubt about the future, especially when the 2026 World Cup qualifiers will start soon.

User Sihiporn Boon wrote: "It's really over! There is no more hope for this team." Another fan, Pramin Pummak, commented: "I felt shocked and had goosebumps when I saw the result. I have followed Thai football for 40 years and this is one of our heaviest defeats."

Thailand's biggest defeat was when they lost 0-9 to England in a friendly in 1956. At the 2018 World Cup qualifiers, they lost 0-4 to Japan.