Thailand's main striker Teerasil Dangda (R, 2nd) picked up an injury during the 3-0 semifinal win against Malaysia on Tuesday. But when he arrived at Noi Bai International Airport, he showed no signs of the injury and seemed fit.
Dangda, 34, is currently the top scorer in the 2022 AFF Cup with six goals, followed by Vietnam's Nguyen Tien Linh with five. Dangda is also the highest scorer in the history of the AFF Cup with 25 goals.
The only player to remain from the 2008 final between Vietnam and Thailand, he scored a goal in it but Vietnam won the two-legged title clash 3-2.
Thailand split into two groups to fly into Hanoi, but arrived almost at the same time after one of their flights was delayed.
The players checked in quickly but had to wait for nearly 40 minutes to get their luggage. The team general manager, Nualphan Lamsam, aka Madam Pang, did not arrive with the team and is expected to reach Hanoi on Thursday afternoon.
Defender Theerathon Bunmathan (L) is one of Thailand’s key players as he was in the semifinals of the 2020 AFF Cup when the Thais beat Vietnam 2-0.
Thailand head coach Mano Polking worked in Vietnam as the coach of V. League club HCMC FC in 2020 and 2021.
As the Thai players moved from the baggage claim area to their bus, Vietnamese fans chanted Theerathon’s name and some even wanted to high-five the defender, but he did not respond.
Right-back Suphanan Bureerat, 29, will face Vietnamese fullback Doan Van Hau on the same flank in the final. He is also goalkeeper Dang Van Lam's former teammate at Thai club Muangthong United.
Midfielder Weerathep Pomphan, 26, has not had much game time in this tournament. He was one of the three overage players for Thailand in the SEA Games final in Hanoi last year when his team lost 0-1 to Vietnam.
Polking was the last to leave. He has a win rate of 68% with Thailand and is the only coach to lead a Southeast Asian team to victory against Vietnam under coach Park Hang-seo.
