According to Thai News Agency, in a FIFA Day friendly match held yesterday at the Jinhua Sports Center Stadium in China, China, ranked 94th in the world, hosted Thailand, ranked 93rd. Head coach Anthony Hudson opted for a three-man defense and fielded eight players over 30, led by captain Teerasil Dangda (38 years old). Younger players like Teerapat Pruethong, Jude Bell, and Erawan Garnier were on the bench. The game ended in a 0-0 draw, with China dominating possession (63%) compared to Thailand's 37%.
The statistics show that Thailand ("War Elephants") were completely dominated by China, who had 24 shots on goal throughout the 90 minutes, while Thailand only had 3 scoring opportunities, none of which were on target. Shots on goal: China 24 (6 on target) - Thailand 3 shots.
After the game, Anthony Hudson, head coach of the Thai national football team, stated in an interview that China has changed from before, due to the improvement of their league and the increased playing time of Chinese players. China is a strong team with significant development, and it seems they are on the right track.
In this match, the Thai team played an away game. Many players had been away from competitive play for quite some time due to the league's off-season, but I am proud of all the players for their courage and dedication. They played together as a team and were able to showcase a strong performance.
Following this, the Thai national team will immediately return to Thailand, arriving at Don Mueang International Airport on June 10th at 9:20 PM. The coaching staff will then hold a meeting to prepare for the ASEAN Hyundai Cup 2026, scheduled for July-August 2026.