We can be proud: Thailand
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
THAILAND might be out of the Asian Cup but the whole country can be proud of what the team achieved, national coach Chanvit Polchovin says.
The co-hosts finished level on points with Australia in group A after pushing the star-studded Socceroos all the way in their final match.
The Thais laid siege to the Australian goal for long stretches of the second half only for the resilient Socceroos to withstand the battering and crack the game open with three goals in the final 10 minutes for a gutsy 4-0 win.
The final margin was in no way a true reflection of the match before a near full house at Rajamangala Stadium last Monday.
Thailand needed a point to go through to the quarter-finals, but instead it will be the Australians who accompany Iraq out of the group.
The Thais greatly impressed with their inventiveness, passing and speed and gave the Australians a torrid night with waves of continual attacks.
"We believe all the Thai people can be proud of us because we finished with four points, the same as Australia and one point behind Iraq even though we lost," said Chanvit.
"The money that an Australian player can earn in England is much more than the budget of the entire Thai national team.
"Everyone gave us plenty of support, standing and applauding us in the stadium and we believe everybody can be proud of this team."
Chanvit said Australia have more scope to improve in the tournament after their dreadful start.
"Australia is one of the teams to beat, they are a good team," he said.
"They may not have started off that well in the first and second matches, but they can improve and tune up their game and they have a chance to go very far in this tournament."
Australia face defending champions Japan in the quarter-finals in Hanoi on Saturday.
Thailand's elimination signalled the end of the international careers of senior players, including skipper Tawan Sripan, striker Kiatisuk Senamuang and midfielder Therdsak Chaiman.
Kiatisuk, 33, is a legend in Thai football and reports Tuesday said the country's prime minister Surayud Chulanont went into the team's room after the game and tried to convince him to stay on for next year's World cup qualifiers.
But he confirmed it was his last game. AFP
The co-hosts finished level on points with Australia in group A after pushing the star-studded Socceroos all the way in their final match.
The Thais laid siege to the Australian goal for long stretches of the second half only for the resilient Socceroos to withstand the battering and crack the game open with three goals in the final 10 minutes for a gutsy 4-0 win.
The final margin was in no way a true reflection of the match before a near full house at Rajamangala Stadium last Monday.
Thailand needed a point to go through to the quarter-finals, but instead it will be the Australians who accompany Iraq out of the group.
The Thais greatly impressed with their inventiveness, passing and speed and gave the Australians a torrid night with waves of continual attacks.
"We believe all the Thai people can be proud of us because we finished with four points, the same as Australia and one point behind Iraq even though we lost," said Chanvit.
"The money that an Australian player can earn in England is much more than the budget of the entire Thai national team.
"Everyone gave us plenty of support, standing and applauding us in the stadium and we believe everybody can be proud of this team."
Chanvit said Australia have more scope to improve in the tournament after their dreadful start.
"Australia is one of the teams to beat, they are a good team," he said.
"They may not have started off that well in the first and second matches, but they can improve and tune up their game and they have a chance to go very far in this tournament."
Australia face defending champions Japan in the quarter-finals in Hanoi on Saturday.
Thailand's elimination signalled the end of the international careers of senior players, including skipper Tawan Sripan, striker Kiatisuk Senamuang and midfielder Therdsak Chaiman.
Kiatisuk, 33, is a legend in Thai football and reports Tuesday said the country's prime minister Surayud Chulanont went into the team's room after the game and tried to convince him to stay on for next year's World cup qualifiers.
But he confirmed it was his last game. AFP
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