China News Service, Beijing, January 31 (Reporter Bian Liqun) "Everyone on the team has tried their best. From now on, let us do better than before. Our goal is to enter the 2026 World Cup, and everyone will continue to work hard. !" On the evening of the 30th, Beijing time, after losing 1:2 to Uzbekistan in the Asian Cup, Thailand team coach Masatada Ishii said.
Although they besieged the Uzbekistan team in the second half, the Thai team failed to wait for the second goal and stopped in the top 16 of the Asian Cup for two consecutive years. Even so, the progress shown by the Thai team in the process is quite obvious. If they want to reach the point of qualitative change, they may just need some time.
After Japanese coach Masatada Ishii took over as coach, the Thai team rebounded strongly in the Asian Cup. To use comments from Thailand, this team is back to what it should be.
However, for the national football team, the Thai team is the most direct competitor in the next World Cup preliminaries.
Match data picture source: Asian Cup
Siege the Power
Facing the Uzbekistan team ranked 68th in the world, the Thai team ranked 113th in the world did not show many disadvantages in the situation.
The Thai team shot 8:13, 3:5 on target, had an advantage of 55.4% ball possession, made 602 passes, and had a pass success rate of 81%.
Especially in the second half, the Thai team showed a pressing situation for a long time. If they had the same attacking power in the first half, it's hard to imagine what the final result would be.
Although it was a pity to be eliminated, Thailand generally applauded this team, believing that under the leadership of Ishii Masatada, the Thai team played with dignity and returned to what it should be.
At the post-match press conference, Ishii Masatada said: "Everyone on the team has tried their best. From now on, let us do better than before. Our goal is to enter the 2026 World Cup. Let's keep up the good work! "
Thailand team poster
strong rebound
Masatada Ishii officially took over the Thai national team on November 21 last year. This Asian Cup is his first appearance leading the team in the main competition. The Thai team had three clean sheets in the group stage, defeating the Kyrgyzstan team 2:0 in the first game, and then drew 0:0 with the powerful Oman team and Saudi Arabia team.
The Oman team, ranked third in the group, was squeezed out by the Thai team, and coach Ivankovic was dismissed sadly.
Before participating in the Asian Cup, the Thai team only played one warm-up match and lost to the Japanese team 0:5 away at the Japan National Stadium. Ishii Masatada's quick start is inseparable from his understanding of Thai football. He had previously served as the technical director of the Thai team for a long time.
It is worth mentioning that the Thai team can be regarded as a remnant in this Asian Cup. The frontcourt players Somkrasin and Dangda were both absent due to injuries, but this did not stop the Thai team from quickly rebounding.
In the last Asian Cup, the Thai team, which returned to the Asian Cup after two years, stopped in the top 16. In the 1/8 finals, they lost to the Chinese team 1:2. In this session, although the results are the same, they reflect a completely different process. Thai football, which continues to improve, may be just one step away from a qualitative change in the Asian Cup.
The national football team and the Thai team in the world preliminaries
What should the national football team do?
Compared with the first round of the World Cup preliminaries, the situation between the Thai team and the Chinese team is extremely reversed.
After the national football team recorded the worst record in the Asian Cup in team history, it reached a fork in the road to change coaches, and there was not much time left before the World Cup preliminaries in March.
More importantly, the national football team will face the Thai team in the second round at home in June. It is understood that this key battle will most likely be held in Dalian.
The national football team played against Thailand in the first round of the World Cup qualifying round of 36
Taking the Uzbekistan team as a reference, in the warm-up match held in Dalian last October, the national football team at home lost with a score of 1:2, and the process was extremely passive. The ball possession rate was only 39%, and the opponent only took 3 shots. 24 times.
Fortunately, the national football team, which was extremely passive, scored with their second kick before the end of the first half. However, in the last 15 minutes of the game, the national football team collapsed and was reversed by the opponent's two goals.
Since it is a warm-up match, it is difficult to say whether the Uzbekistan team has exerted its full strength. After all, the opponent coach Katanek showed a lot of arrogance and contempt for the Chinese team at the time.
However, in the Asian Cup, facing the siege of the Thai team in the second half, the Uzbekistan team obviously responded with all its strength.
The national football team played against Thailand in the first round of the World Cup qualifying round of 36
Fortunately, after the national football team defeated Thailand 2:1 in the first game of the world preliminaries, they at least took some initiative.
If the Singapore team is guaranteed to score 6 points in the two games and does not lose to the Thai team at home, it still has great hope of advancing to the top 18. Putting aside whether the national football team can finally reach the World Cup, advancing to the top 18 is the minimum task that must be completed.
At present, the national football team still needs to solve the coaching problem as soon as possible. The coaching change ideas of the opponent Thailand team can actually provide some reference. It is best to be fully familiar with Chinese football and Asian football, and the decision-making time cannot be delayed too long.
There is not much time left for the national football team, and the national football team is facing more and more opponents. (over)