The Thai team nicknamed “War Elephants” played a series of its best football during the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers.
The display by the Thail team returned much of the lost faith by the fans to the extent that the home matches in Rajamangala National Stadium reached capacity crowds. Thailand almost defeated Australia at their home and then defeated Oman 3-0 away. This was in addition to the draw against Saudi Arabia. These results were all indicative of a good team in the making with many young starlets given the opportunity and excelling. Such reflects the strength in depth of the Thai football which always produced plenty of good players, but as a group, they haverarely managed to cap on their skills and win trophies.
The German coach Winfried Schäfer who succeeded Bryan Robson in 2012 , was set to mount a serious challenge against the West Asian teams Iran , Kuwait and Lebanon in the AFC Asian Cup 2015 Qualifying group. Thailand was looking for at least being 2nd in the group. However, the first defeat against Kuwait at home in the qualifiers damped the enthusiasm of the team as cracks started to build up. It was a shock result for the Thai fans, who expected a comfortable win against no so powerful Kuwait.
Thailand still had a lot of time to recover from that loss and Lebanon, despite recent good results, would have been a tough test for the next match but again , not insurmountable opposition. This time, the Thai team was overhauled by Winfried Schäfer in the hope of getting an away win.
Veteran Surat Sukha was inducted in the team in the hope of solidifying the defense.
All the efforts of Winfried Schäfer was up in the air and the hope of qualifying to Austarlai in 2015 seem to fall apart after Thailand was ripped apart by Lebanon 5-2 in another shock result. The only saving grace perhaps was the scoring of two goals by Thitiphan Puangjan who came in as a substitute after half an hour.
In June 2013, Schäfer resigned his post as the Head Coach of Thailand. The FA of Thailand appointed Kiatisak Senamuang as the new caretaker coach for national team. His first task was friendly match against China PR on June 15, which he won 5–1.
It is not known which of the two teams will be playing against Team Melli tomorrow , but what is apparent is that Kiatisak will be desperate for at least one point in Tehran. It is unlikely that The Thai will go for an offensive game plan, preferring to let Team Melli do all the attacking , while they try to hit the hosts on the counter with their pacey players and then hoping for the best. Team Melli , despite being quite shy in scoring recently , could very well change in this match while oozing with confidence. Their mind at easce with qualification already assured to the World Cup, and setting comfortably at the top of the Asian Cup qualkifuication group, the team should give its best.
Tuesday will be a battle between a solidified 5 man Thai defense , backed by 4 more midfield players against an offensive Team Melli trying to score as many as they did against Lebanon.
The two different teams that represented Thailand in the competition so ar:
Against Kuwait in Bangkok: 1- 3
[1]Kawin Thamsatchanan ; [2] Panupong Wongsa (c), [3] Theerathon Bunmathan, [4] Chonlatit Jantakam, [11] Anucha Kitpongsri (59’ [13] Chatree Chimtale ), [7] Datsakorn Thonglao, [10] Teerasil Dangda, [12] Adul Lahso (82’ [17] Apipoo Suntornpanave) , [19] Phichitphong Choeichiu, [23] Piyaphon Buntao, [16] Jakkapan Pornsai (72’ [20] Chanathip)
GOAL: Chanathip
YELLOW: [4] Chonlatit Jantakam, [7] Datsakorn Thonglao
Own goal: Bunmathan
Against Lebanon in Beirut 2-5
[23] Siwarak Tedsungnoen ; [3] Theerathon Bunmathan, [21]Prayat, [6] Narubadin, [15]Surat Sukha, [7] Datsakorn Thonglao (c), [10] Teerasil Dangda, [11] Anucha Kitpongsri ((46’ [20] Chanathip), [14] Anthony Petch Ampaipitakwong, [16] Jakkapan Pornsai (31′ [19] Thitiphan Puangjan), [4] Apiwat Ngualamhin (54′ [5] Atit Daosawang
[6] Narubadin, [4] Apiwat Ngualamhin
GOALS: Thitiphan Puangjan (2)