Riyadh: Star midfielder Chanathip “Messi Jay” Songkrasin says that qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia will be a hugely difficult task for Thailand but is far from mission impossible.
The War Elephants launch their final round qualification campaign against Saudi Arabia in Riyadh on September 1 and then face four-time AFC Asian Cup winners Japan in Bangkok five days later. Australia, Iraq and United Arab Emirates also feature in Group B, with the top two teams qualifying for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Chanathip’s intuitive reading of the game, crisp passing and mazy runs were a feature of Thailand’s play as they topped Group F in the second round thanks to two draws with Iraq and home and away wins over Vietnam and Chinese Taipei.
“I think it will be difficult (to qualify) but this is football and nothing is impossible. Japan are good but sometimes Japan can lose. Australia can lose, that is football,” Chanathip said.
“We will take it game by game. Every game will be important.
“The coach (Kiatisuk Senamuang) says in our home games, we must win. But away from home to get only one point is okay, not lose. At home we must get three points. It will be difficult but we can do it.”
The last time Thailand featured at this stage of World Cup qualifying was in 2001 when Kiatisuk was their star man. They finished bottom of a five-team group but Chanathip dares to dream of a different outcome this time around.
“It would be a high point in the history of Thai football to qualify for the World Cup finals,” the diminutive 22-year-old said.
“I don’t know the future but I will do my best to make the dream come true.”
Striker Teerasil Dangda, leading scorer for Thailand with three goals in the second phase of qualification, also said that all the players were determined to keep alive the dream of playing in the World Cup finals.
“The dream for everyone is to qualify for the World Cup,” said Teerasil, who plays his club football alongside Chanathip at Muangthong United.
“For me as a footballer, to play in the best tournament in the world is a top, top dream of mine. The truth is that it is not easy to reach that goal. What I am trying to do at the moment is do my best and give 100 per cent in every game.”
Teerasil added that Thailand could prove to be the surprise side of the final round qualifiers.
“In the World Cup qualification round two nobody thought that Thailand could win the group but finally we did exactly that,” he said.
“This time we may make some surprise in Asia.”
Source: the-afc.com