Courtesy: Futsal England

Respectability Restored in Bangkok

Huamark Indoor Stadium, Bangkok

13th November 2004

Thailand 6:1 England


A modicum of respectability was achieved today, as the National Futsal squad preserved some dignity in their 6:1 defeat to the Thai team. Those who attended the Indoor Stadium at Huamark, Bangkok, saw the home side produce a decent performance, ensuring continual squad rotation....... "although we won, our possession should have lead to more goals." commented Adisak Benjasiriwan, the Thai Team manager.

Dominating possession the Thai’s were rarely troubled and once again the defensive tactics employed by Graeme Dell serving to keep the score line deficit down, with a 1:1 half time score no mean feat.

The home side always played with the advantage and with one eye on the imminent Futsal World Championships, were at times rather tame. With Brazil and Czech republic in their group, Gluacio Castro, the Brazilian coach will have to instil a greater urgency if they are to qualify from the group stage, and with Parinya Pandee, the Thai goalie suffering a broken finger, the pressure is mounting.

The English, showing good levels of fitness and the ability to compete for the duration, could be turning the corner in their futsal development, and whilst a defeat will always count against you, there was definite evidence of improvement, with Mario Daniels on the score sheet in his fifth cap.

If not for a second-half three minute hat-trick from Thai sensation Panuwat, maybe, things could have been so different.

On Sunday they face the African champions Egypt, whom are a completely different proposition and with the National coach believing that ……..…"Egypt has an outside chance of winning the World Cup in Taipei …” it should be a match to savour.