KUALA LUMPUR: After springing a surprise over the United Arab Emirates (UAE), high-riding Thailand will be looking to keep their unbeaten record when they take on Harimau Malaya in the 2022 World Cup/2023 Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers on Nov 14.
The War Elephants squad head coach Akira Nishino has called up a number of key players such as midfielder Chanathip Songkrasin, who plays with Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo in the Japanese Premier League (J1), and French-born defender Tristan Do, who missed earlier action due to injury.
The Japanese coach has also called up experienced striker Thitiphan Puangjan, goalkeeper Kawim Thamsatchanan, who plays for OH Leuven in Belgium, and Sarach Yooyen to strengthen the team ahead of the matches against Malaysia at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil and Vietnam in Hanoi five days later.
However, Harimau Malaya squad head coach Tan Cheng Hoe remains positive and is confident his players would be able to surprise the world ranked 109th team.
“I think all coaches take this qualifying campaign seriously in their bid to earn points. The inclusion of the injured Chanathip and Thitiphan as well as experienced senior players would strengthen them.
“But we are well prepared and with the players having just concluded their Malaysian League season, I hope they can focus on the last two matches of the year to create positive results. They too want victory to achieve our goal,” he said when met at a training session in Bukit Jalil here Wednesday.
He also hoped that the Malaysian team, ranked 158th in the world, would make use of home ground advantage to pull off a surprise.
After three matches of the second round qualifying campaign, Thailand lead Group G despite having the same seven points as Vietnam, while Malaysia are in fourth place with three points. – Bernama
In clashes with Thailand since 1959, Malaysia have won 40 times, lost 35 times and drawn 35 times.
Before meeting Thailand, the Harimau Malaya squad will face Tajikistan in a friendly on Friday. Malaysia will play Indonesia in another qualifying match on Nov 19 at the same venue. Cheng Hoe said he would not make major changes to the first eleven against Tajikistan, following a 2-1 victory over the Maldives in a warm-up match yesterday.
Meanwhile, Kedah midfielder Baddrol Bakhtiar said he would justify his call-up for national training by giving his best performance. “For me, it is not a problem to play with anyone because any player chosen to play would surely give 100 per cent,” he said.
Although he is joining Cheng Hoe’s national training session for the first time, the 31-year-old player said he should have no problem adapting as he had played under him with Kedah. – Bernama
