TALL ORDER
War Elephants Elephants will will find find it it tough to to get get beyond last last 16 at at Asian Games
Ayear ago in Kuala Lumpur, Worrawoot Srimaka pumped his fist in the air and blurted “Gu tham dai [I did it]!” as Thailand retained their men’s football title — the most coveted gold medal in the biennial SEA Games. It is very unlikely that next month’s Asian Games in the Indonesian cities of Jakarta and Pelambang will present the Thai coach with an opportunity to replicate the act.
When Worrawoot takes his men to the world’s second largest sports gathering after the Olympics, they should consider themselves lucky if they make it to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
Thailand have done well at the quadrennial Asian Games, finishing in fourth place four times with the latest one being at Incheon 2014 after losing to Iraq in the third-place play-off.
However, the team’s heroic effort in claiming the gold medal at the 2017 SEA Games and their feat of going as far as the semi-finals in South Korea four years ago may not prove to be cashable assets in Indonesia.
With the late inclusion of the United Arab Emirates and Palestine, there will be 26 teams vying for the top honours in Indonesia.
The Asian Games’ men’s football event, which will be contested from Aug 14-Sept 1, is a U23 competition which allows each country to field three overage players.
Unfortunately, since that moment of glory at the Kuala Lumpur SEA Games almost a year ago, Thailand haven’t had much to cherish about in competitions where the players’ age is limited to 23 years or below.
In January, the undisputed football kings of Southeast Asia were mercilessly derided by the media and fans as a bootless lot after a forgettable trip to the China for the 2018 AFC U23 Championship.
Three straight losses led to a humiliating first-round exit in China where regional foes Malaysia and Vietnam both made it to the quarter-finals.
Vietnam went on to finish second after losing to Uzbekistan in the final.
That Thai team — many members of which are likely to find places on the Asian Games squad — began their quest for a place in the Asian event quarter-finals with a 1-0 loss to North Korea.
It was followed by a 1-0 defeat at the hands of defending champions Japan which ended the Thais’ dream of claiming a place in the knockout stages.
Thailand vowed to salvage some pride in their last match but ended up seeing strife-torn Palestine mercilessly rub salt into their wounds, inflicting a 5-1 humiliation.
This was the eighth straight loss suffered by the team in nine games under then-coach Zoran Jankovic and cost the Serb his job.
The Football Association of Thailand (FAT) went back to former Thailand international Worrawoot, who they had demoted to the post of Jankovic’s deputy after the SEA Games.
For the Asiad, the War Elephants have been drawn in Group B with Uzbekistan, Qatar and Bangladesh for the first round battles.
Worrawoot has already acknowledged that it is a difficult group for the Thais.
“Uzbekistan will surely use the te U23 Championship in January this also use the squad that picked up at the same tournament,” said Wor
“Both Uzbekistan and Qatar pla they could be ranked among the t Asia in youth football.
“We cannot control the draw an want to play. It is our duty to pre possible for the competition.”
Witthaya Laohakul, the FAT tech “It is a difficult group for the Thai te favourites will be Uzbekistan and w out for the second spot in the grou
The fact that there are only six football competition of the Games placed sides will earn places in the ease a lot of pressure on Worrawoo
“My aim in the Asian Games is four points in the group stage wh carry us to the second stage,” he sa is counting on a win over Banglade
either Uzbekistan or Qatar to a draw.
“Everything must go step by step. We will see who we play in the knockout stages and decide things then,” said Worrawoot.
“I already have a line-up in my mind but I will delay naming the squad to the last minute. I want an injuryfree team with all the players fit and match-ready.”
It is the approach that put Worrawoot in the media crosshairs after a string of lacklustre performances early in the SEA Games last year before it eventually bailed him out.
The coach seems too happy to take the gamble that the strategy will work again at the Asian Games.