Thailand still have a chance despite defeat
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Seemingly dead and buried, Thailand's hopes of securing a berth in the 2015 Asian Cup Finals in Australia were given an unexpected lifeline by Kuwait even though they succumbed to a fourth straight defeat with a 3-0 home loss to group leaders Iran.
The reverse at the almost-deserted Rajamangala National stadium on Friday, which followed the 2-1 defeat in Tehran in October, looked to have sealed the fate of the struggling Thais, who are without a point from four matches so far in the group.
However, the Thai side got a stay from execution when second-placed Kuwait were held to a goalless draw at home by Lebanon in Group B. It means Thailand mathematically still have a chance, however slim it is, to snatch the second spot.
To be among the 16 teams for the Finals in Australia, the Thais have to not only win the remaining two matches and overturn a vastly inferior goal difference but also hope the section’s other results go in their way in the final two rounds of the group fixtures.
The Thais would have found themselves in far better position had they managed to claim at least a draw in their second meeting with the three-time Asian champions Iran. Surachai Jaturapattarapong, who was handed the job of national coach following the departure of veteran German Winfried Schaefer, took the blame for his side’s lethargic performance against the West Asian visitors.
“We put ourselves under excessive pressure. That should not have happened. However, we have to accept that the Iranians are better than us in every aspect. They got the chances and took them.
“I want to take all the responsibility. I’m the one who selected the players but everyone did their best,” said Surachai, who is also serves as the coach of Thai Premier League club Chainat FC.
While admitting that his men had much work to do to bridge the gap with the Iranians, who topped the standings on 10 points, Surachai promised his charge would try to win their final two matches starting with a trip to Kuwait on Tuesday.
“My players were not so fresh tonight and faced a lot of stress. Physically and tactically they were way ahead of us. We must develop and improve our tactics and technique.
“The next generation of players must develop these skills otherwise we will not get better. We will play for pride in the final two games and we will be looking to win them both,” Surachai said.
