Thailand coach Kiatisak Senamung has set his sights on beating Lebanon in their last Asian Cup qualifier tomorrow.
Thailand coach Kiattisak Senamuang.
The Group B match at Rajamangala National Stadium will kick off at 9pm.
Thailand have been eliminated without a single point from five games while Lebanon need a win and hope the other results go their way to qualify for the 2015 finals.
While Lebanon arrived in Bangkok six days before the match, the Thai players only began training together yesterday after their club duties at the weekend.
Kiatisak’s players include Teerasil Dangda, Datsakorn Thonglao, Thitiphan Puangjan, Charyl Chappuis and Sarawut Masuk.
Striker Teerasil, who will join Spanish club Almeria on loan in midyear, has been named captain of the Thai squad.
“This is the best Thai squad I have ever seen. It is a mixture of young and veteran players,” said Kiatisak, who guided the U23 team to win back the SEA Games title in December.
He said although Thailand had been eliminated his players would give their all for a win which would push Thailand to regain the No.1 spot among countries in Southeast Asia.
“We must try to regain the region’s top ranking from the Philippines,” said Kiatisak, who now oversees both the full national and U23 sides.
“We have to try to win to regain our fans’ faith.”
Kiatisak has called up striker Teerathep Winothai to replace Wuthichai Tathong, who is injured.
In their first meeting of the qualifying campaign, Lebanon hammered Thailand 5-2 in Beirut with Thitiphan scoring both goals for the Thais.
Meanwhile, coach Hakeem Shakir said former champions Iraq must “do everything possible” in tomorrow’s crunch Asian Cup qualifier with fellow hopefuls China.
The Group C showdown sees China, who are now coached by Frenchman Alain Perrin, occupying the all-important second place, two points ahead of Iraq.