Courtesy: Bangkok Post


Thai futsal side focuses on World Cup

First game against Italy on September 30

by TOR CHITTINAND

Thailand secured their third Fifa Futsal (five-a-side) World Cup appearance when they defeated Australia 5-2 in the quarter-finals of the recent AFC Futsal (five-a-side) Championship in Bangkok.

With Asia getting four slots for the World Cup in Brazil later this month, Thailand will represent the continent along with Iran, Japan and China.

While the Thai national football team is still looking for its first World Cup berth, the futsal side will be making its third successive world championship appearance having played in Guatemala in 2000 and Taiwan in 2004.

In the 2008 World Cup to be held in Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia from September 30-October 9, Thailand, who are ranked 12th in the world, will have a tough task in Group B against world number three Italy and number four Portugal as well as Paraguay (13) and the US (15).

Thailand's preparations for the World Cup began earlier this month when they hosted the Thailand 5s tournament. The Thais played Argentina, Japan and Vietnam in the round-robin event.

The hosts had creditable results finishing second behind Argentina. The two sides drew 2-2 in their final game but Argentina took the title because of their better goal difference.

Thailand aim to reach the second round at the World Cup for the first time after being eliminated in the first round in the two previous finals. Concerned parties are upbeat after their display against Argentina.

After the tournament, Thailand's Spanish coach Jose Maria Mendez was confident that his men would achieve their target of reaching the second round at the World Cup.

"If we play in the World Cup like we played against Argentina, we will have a good chance of advancing to the second round," said Mendez, who is affectionately called Pulpis.

Thailand manager Adisak Benjasiriwan said the players became more confident after the Thailand 5s tournament.

"Our players have confidence and Pulpis is a good coach. Thailand have improved a lot under him," said Adisak who will quit after the World Cup after a decade as Thailand's manager.

"In the match against Argentina, we proved we were not an easy side to beat."

Thailand are training in Spain before going to Brazil and Adisak believes the training and warm-up matches in Spain will be useful.

Mendez said Thailand's spell in his home country would be helpful and give the Thai players more experience.

In their first warm-up match last Thursday, Thailand were hammered 6-0 by reigning world champions Spain. But Mendez said Thailand would improve in their next warm-up games against Spanish clubs.

"I am sure that we will play better in the second match against a Spanish club," he said.

But the Thais are facing a big problem as their key player Anucha "Wizard" Munjarern is suffering a foot injury which is a concern for Mendez.

"I am worried about Anucha's injury. He is our important player. We are taking a good care of him and he may have to rest until the World Cup," he said.

It would be a huge blow for Thailand if Anucha is unfit. Even with him, the Thais may not be good enough to acheive their goal of getting past the first round.

It is not likely that Thailand will get a result against powerhouses Italy and Portugal. Thailand will begin their campaign with a formidable assignment against Italy on September 30.

With three teams from each group progressing to the second round, Thailand can still get past the group phrase with results against the US and Paraguay.

Although Thailand are ranked higher than both Paraguay and the US, it will not be easy for them to beat the two sides who look stronger than the Thais despite their lower rankings.

No matter how well Thailand will perform in the World Cup, they have made fast progress in the sport and are heading the right direction.

Adisak is probably the most important person behind Thailand's success and he will be sorely missed when he steps down after the World Cup.

Tor Chittinand is the Bangkok Post's football writer.







Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com