India U23 Rival Watch: Thailand U23

India U23 will take on Thailand on November 15.

The Indian U23 football team, carrying the momentum from the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers and the Indonesian tour, will face Thailand U23 at Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani on November 15. The match will kick off at 15:30 IST.

The Blue Colts have some new faces in the squad as Naushad Moosa tries to expand the core of youngsters in the U23 setup. Their next rivals, Thailand, will pose a strong challenge in front of their home crowd.

History

The Thailand U23 team was formed in 1991 and played their first international match on 18 May of that year, which they won against Bangladesh. Thailand made their presence felt on the continental stage, having qualified for the AFC U23 Asian Cup six times.

Thailand made great strides in the AFC U23 Asian Cup. Their performance in the AFC U23 Asian Cup has grown from strength to strength. Thailand finished as quarter-finalists in the 2020 edition, proving their mettle against some of Asia’s best sides.

Coach

The former Thai international, Thawatchai Darmong-Ongtrakul, is at the helm of the Thailand U23 team. The 51-year-old tactician has had an illustrious career with the Thai national team. He made 73 appearances for his country, scoring 10 goals.

Thawatchai began his managerial career in 2009 when he took charge of Chiangrai United. He has been constantly shifting his base. His longest tenure was at PT Prachuap from 2017 to 2021. He was recently appointed as the head coach of the Thailand U23 side in June this year.

Also Read: New faces in India U23 football team for Thailand friendly

Recent Performances

2025 started poorly for Thailand U23 as they lost five matches in a row. This followed a managerial change, and Thawatchai Damrong-Wongtrakul was appointed head coach. Their performance has improved significantly after the arrival of the new head coach.

However, the consistency is still missing. In nine international fixtures they have played since July, they have won four and drawn four. Last month, they played two friendly matches against China, losing the first match 3-1. But they came back in the second match to hold China to a 0-0 draw.

Player to watch out for

Seksan Ratree

22-year-old Seksan Ratree has been one of Thailand U23’s most consistent performers in recent times. The attacking midfielder has made a name for himself at a young age with his creative skills. Not only in the advanced areas of the midfield, but Seksan Ratree can also be a potent threat on the wings.

The youngster has been accumulating minutes in the Thai League, Thailand’s top division. His performance for the U23 side has been top-notch. Captaining the side in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, he scored four goals, which also included a hat-trick against Mongolia. Ratree will keep the Indian defense on their toes as he looks to add more goals to his tally.

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