Thailand Futsal Team Gains Experience Despite Loss to Indonesia, Says Coach.

Bangkok: "Miguel" believes the War Elephants' futsal team has gained experience despite losing to Indonesia. Miguel Rodrigo, head coach of the Thai national team, expressed satisfaction with the overall performance of the "Changsuk Futsal" team after their defeat to Indonesia. Despite the 1-5 loss, Rodrigo emphasized the valuable experience gained by the new generation of players. According to Thai News Agency, Rodrigo acknowledged the strong performance by Indonesia but remained optimistic about his team's future. He highlighted the fighting spirit of the young players, despite their limited practice time, which led to ball-passing issues. Rodrigo is determined to focus on preparing for the third-place match against Australia, despite facing challenges such as injuries and limited player options. Hector Soto, head coach of the Indonesian national team, praised his players for their efforts and acknowledged the pressure of playing against a strong team like Thailand. Soto expressed his satisfaction with the victory and set his sights on winning the championship. He also extended his gratitude to the Indonesian fans for their support. "Big Pom" Adisak Benjasiriwan, Vice President of the Football Association of Thailand, admitted defeat and apologized to Thai futsal fans. He explained that the focus on introducing new players was part of a strategy to provide them with experience to eventually replace older players. He urged fans to support and give this new generation a chance. In the semi-final match at Terminal 21 Korat shopping mall, the Thai team, 16-time champions, faced Indonesia, a former champion. The match was a rematch of the 2022 final, which Thailand had won. However, in this encounter, Indonesia took an early lead and maintained their advantage throughout the game. Indonesia's Ivan Sumilena scored the first goal, followed by Wendy Brain Lindrey's two goals, and further goals by Rio Pangastu and Freeman. Thailand managed a consolation goal from Teerapat Muensri but ultimately conceded a 1-5 defeat, marking their first loss to Indonesia in 16 years. In another semi-final, Vietnam defeated Australia in a thrilling extra-time match, setting up a final showdown against Indonesia. The final match is scheduled for Sunday, November 10th, with the third-place match between Australia and Thailand preceding it.