Thai coach warns against conceding soft goals to Spain
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The coach of Thailand's futsal team, Victor Hermans, sounded a note of caution yesterday by asking his players not to give away any soft goals when they take on two-time champions Spain in the last-16 tie of the Futsal World Cup today.
Reaching the knockout phase of the showpiece tournament is new territory for Thai side, which failed to survive the group stage in their previous three campaigns in the Cup finals. In fact, there was a large slice of fortune in their qualification – as they made it through as one of the best third-placed teams.
After claiming only a single win with a 3-1 success over Costa Rica from three Group-A matches, the Thais’ fate hinged on other results going in their favour. It did come but from an unlikely source, when unfancied Solomon Islands, who suffered a record 31-2 defeat at the hands of Russia in the previous edition in Brazil, stunned Guatemala 4-3 in Group F in one of biggest upsets in the tournament’s history.
The hosts cannot rely on their luck anymore when they come up against titleholders Spain, who will no doubt present a tough test.
They also have to play without suspended duo Keattiyot Chalaemkhet and Nattavut Madyalan, while star striker Suphawut Thueanklang remains a doubt for the fixture at Nimibutr stadium.
Dutch coach Hermans, who guided Thailand to the runners-up spot at the Asian Championship earlier this year, is under no illusion about the size of the task his side faces.
After watching his side concede a total of eight goals in the opening half alone against Ukraine and Paraguay, Hermans pleaded for maximum concentration at the back for the whole match against the Spaniards, who qualified as Group B winners.
“We’re definitely underdogs against them. But, we’ve studied their play thoroughly from the draw against Iran in the group as well as the friendly in which we lost to them.
“What we must try to collect is not to give away goals cheaply, especially at the start of the game. We seemed inclined to concede goals in the first half. I don’t know why. We can ill afford to do that against a quality team as Spain.
“They’re good at ball possession so it will be very difficult should we fall behind. Nevertheless, we would give a good account of ourselves against them,” said Hermans, who will have Kritsada Wongkaeo available again after suspension.
