World Cup: Thailand, Kiatisak focus on Iraq match

WORLD CUP
Thailand, Kiatisak focus on Iraq match
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- Thailand's hopes of qualifying for the last-12 team stage of Asian World Cup qualifiers boils down to the decisive clash against Iraq next year after the 2007 Asian champions beat Taiwan 2-0 away on Tuesday that kept the race for the top spot and automatic qualification alive.

The Taiwan win lifted the unbeaten Iraqis to eight points from four matches, five behind leaders Thailand, who played one game more. Should Iraq win their remaining two fixtures at home to Thailand and Vietnam in March, they would supersede the Thais at the summit and qualify for the final qualifying round.

In the event, the Thai side finished in the second spot, they could still qualify as one of the best four runners-up along with the eight group winners for the next round that also earn them a berth at the 2019 Asian Cup. That scenario brightened following Tuesday's results in other groups that went in the Thais' favour.

However, national team coach Kiatisak Senamuang preferred to focus on the key encounter against Iraq due to take place on neutral ground in Iranian capital, Tehran on March 24, which his charges needed only a draw to ensure direct passage into the last-12 team for only the second time.

"Our priority is, of course, a meeting with Iraq, in which either a draw or win is enough for us to qualify as the group winners. That also will prove the capability of the team as we qualify on our own and not depend on other results to send us through," said the 42-year-old former national striker.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/sports/Thailand-Kiatisak-focus-on-Iraq-match-30273253.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-19