Asian Cup last chance saloon for Rajevac
Thailand’s performance at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup will determine Milovan Rajevac’s fate as coach of the national side, Football Association of Thailand Somyot Poompunmuang reiterated yesterday.
Two-time defending champions Thailand were knocked out by Malaysia in the semi-finals of the AFF Suzuki Cup last week.
There have been calls for the FAT to fire the Serbian coach but Somyot wants to give him another chance to prove himself at the Jan 5-Feb 1 Asian championship in the United Arab Emirates.
“Rajevac will be evaluated after the Asian Cup,’’ Somyot told the media yesterday.
“The Suzuki Cup is the past. We can’t do anything about it. We have to look forward to the Asian Cup.
“The coach must at least guide Thailand to the second round at the Asian Cup. If he fails to pass the test, then he has to leave the post.”
Thailand have a good chance of advancing to the last 16 round in the UAE.
The War Elephants are in Group A with the UAE, India and Bahrain in the 24-team tournament.
The top two teams in each of the six groups plus four best third-placed teams earn spots in the knockout stages.
Rajevac arrived in Thailand in April last year. He initially signed a one-year contract which since has been extended for another two years until 2020.
The Serb wants his team to play two warm-up games with Thai League 1 sides ahead of the Asian Cup.
He will announce his 30-man squad this week before trimming it to 23.
The War Elephants are expected to leave for the UAE on Jan 3 before taking on India in their opening game on Jan 6.
Thailand last played at the continental championship when the country co-hosted the 2007 edition with Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia.
In six previous appearances, the War Elephants have only progressed beyond the group phase once – in 1972 when they finished in third position.