Thailand coach wants players to be confident like Vietnam

"Vietnam played really well against Japan. Thailand must also try to do the same thing," the Japanese coach said on Monday at a press conference. "I’m impressed by the confidence of Vietnam players when they are up against a much stronger opponent. I want Thailand players to be confident like that and fight like warriors when we play Kyrgyzstan."

Going up against might Japan, Vietnam played well, had six shots and did not receive any yellow cards. Despite losing 2-4, the team caused many difficulties for Japan, and even took a 2-1 lead for a while in the first half. Vietnam received many compliments from international media, football experts, as well as Japanese players Takumi Minamino and Takefusa Kubo for their ability to keep possession and attack with confident.

After his retirement in 1998, Ishii pursued a coaching career but it was not until 2015 that he won his first title, the J. League Cup with Kashima Antlers. A year later, his club won the J1 League and the Emperor's Cup titles, and finished as runner-up in the FIFA Club World Cup, losing 2-4 to Real Madrid in the final. In that year, Ishii was named the best coach in J1 League.

In 2019, Ishii went to Thailand to coach Samut Prakan City and then Buriram United from 2021-2023. He helped Buriram win the treble twice - Thai League 1, Thai FA Cup and Thai League Cup - in the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 seasons, and was named the best coach in Thai League 1 twice.

Ishii was appointed as Thailand national football coach in November 2023 after Mano Polking was sacked over China defeat at the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.